Better by Far - 13
The Excellency of Christ in the Book of Hebrews
This thirteenth chapter contains a number of concluding exhortations. We find the features that should be seen in all those who are determined to follow Jesus Christ. Verse 1 says, "Keep on loving each other as brothers". Your fellow believer is your brother. You are in the family of God. God is love so you must show real love to everyone in your church. Verse 2 says, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it". It is possible to have many wonderful experiences as you open your home in Christian hospitality. Abraham gave hospitality to three strangers who turned out to be the Lord and two angels. God blesses hospitable believers in special ways. What act of kindness have you done recently for your brother or sister in Christ? What about believers we never meet? Verse 3 says, "Remember those in prison-and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering". We have brothers and sisters in foreign lands who are persecuted for righteousness sake. True Christian love is practical. Try and find out what you can about them. What are there needs? Stand in their shoes and feel for them. If possible write and encourage them. Especially remember them in prayer.
Verse 4 - 6 remind us that we are not to be unholy and selfish. We read in verse 4, "Marriage should be honoured-God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral". Society in Paul's day was thoroughly depraved. The marriage bond was just a bit of paper. Our generation isn't any better. Society is rife with infidelity and immorality. The marriage bond must be honoured by believers. Is your marriage an example of a Christian marriage? Any illicit sexual relationships will face God's displeasure. He will judge it. Verse 5 says, "Keep your lives from the love of money". The answer to greed is contentment with what you have. Of course you need money to live. You must earn it honestly. When you have done all you can to provide for your family look to the Lord. He has promised to meet your needs. We can be content because we have His help. God says at the end of Verse 5, "because God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you'". Jesus says in Matthew Chapter 6 Verse 33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well". Do not be envious of the prosperity of the unsaved. Do not panic and be tempted to gamble or steal. Honour God and He will honour you and bless you with His provision for all you daily needs. The one who asks you to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread", will not withhold it from you.
To live the life of faith well we are exhorted to follow the example of present leaders in the church. Verse 7 says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith". Be grateful to God if you have a godly, biblical leadership in you fellowship. Follow their life style as they follow Christ. There may be a leader in your church full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit and you wonder what you will do when the lord takes him home. Who gave you that leader? It was Jesus the head of the church. Ephesians Chapter 4 Verse 8 says, "Christ---gave gifts to men". When Moses died Joshua was there to take his place. Hebrews Chapter 13 Verse 8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever". This verse has been used in all sorts of different ways. In the context it has to do with the provision of leaders in the local church. The great shepherd of the sheep will always make sure there is a provision of under shepherds to feed and guide His flock. He will never change in that objective. You need to be 'led and fed'! Especially as there are so many false teachings about. Verse 9 goes on to say, "Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings". Jesus provides sound bible teachers in the church to guide you into truth and help you to avoid error. The Hebrew Christians were being told that they could not please God or grow in their faith unless they partook of certain ceremonial foods. Paul says in Verse 9, "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace". The Christian life is a life of grace from beginning to end. Any teaching that introduces legalistic requirements to please God is not biblical. Be careful of any teaching that externalises Christianity to mere outward performance of ceremony, ritual, and routine. The essence of the Christian life is stated in Philippians Chapter 2 Verse 12, "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose". True Christianity is God working in our hearts by grace and us responding in loving, willing obedience. It is not rules and regulations. It is working out in daily practice what God has instilled in our hearts by His Holy Spirit. We see this in Verses 20 and 21. Paul prays "May the God of peace---equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ".
To serve Christ means that we will be ready to unashamedly identify ourselves with Him. Paul uses an Old Testament practice to make this point. He says in verse 11 concerning the burnt offering, "the bodies are burned outside the camp". So Jesus was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem in shame and disgrace. Yet in doing so He was doing God's will and bringing us salvation. Paul applies this to us in Verse 13. He says, "Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore". Serving the crucified Christ is God's will for us, and when we do, we will be blessed and will win others to the Saviour. We cannot do what Jesus did and offer ourselves as a sacrifice for sin. Only the Son of God could do that. We do have a sacrifice to offer as we go to Him outside the camp. Verse 15 Says, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess His name". Never be ashamed of the one who loved you and gave Himself for you. Speak for Him in this fallen world. You will be opposed and despised sometimes as Christ was at Golgotha. That's part of the cost of taking up your cross and following Him outside the camp. But it's worth it!
In Verses 17 and 18 Paul deals with God's expectation of you toward Christian leaders. Verse 17 says, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority". Our generation is one that objects authority and its influence can be felt in the church. Good leaders will not lord it over the flock of God. They will lead in a spirit of humility. Believers are called to submit to such leadership. Two reasons are given. First, we read, "they keep a watch over you as men who must give and account". Hopefully they will give a good account of a person who was humble enough to be led and not rebel. Second, we read, "so that their work will be a joy, not a burden". Christian leadership is a difficult work. The Pastor and Elders are at the forefront of the work and of the devils attack. Grumbling, complaining, nit-picking believers make the work twice as hard and are a real burden. They destroy the joy of the work for everyone, especially for leaders. What is the best way to encourage the work. Paul says as a leader in verse 18, "Pray for us". Instead of finding fault find time to pray. That will improve everything and give you a sweeter spirit in the work of God.
What will you do about all that this chapter asks of you? The Hebrew believers were left with a challenge. Verse 22 says, "Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation". We must indeed fix our eyes on Jesus and glorify Him. He is Lord above all. He excels all that Judaism offered. Be sure not to turn from Him. Follow Him at all times and in all circumstances. God will give you grace to help in time of need. So Paul concludes with a short benediction in Verse 25.
"Grace be with you all".