Title: Hebrews 13:1-6 Christian Duty
Content Christian Duty (Hebrews 13:1-6)
Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world," and said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
How to live a good deed and glorify God? The answer can be found in the text that tells us what the Christian duty is.
1. to love your neighbor
(1) Brothers Continue to love: Brothers here refer to our neighbors in general. The Apostle John said, "If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar, and he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20).
It is easy to love a brother for a moment. However, the text commands us to have continuous love.
As Jesus prophesied, "Many will grow cold because iniquity will increase" (Matthew 24:12). Let's wake up and try to love more while seeing the reality that is coming.
(2) Do not forget to entertain guests: Abraham, the father of faith, enjoyed hospitality. One day at about noon Abraham was sitting at the tent door and saw three men standing opposite him. He hurriedly ran to them, greeted them politely, and brought them in, washed their feet and treated them with respect. They were God and his angels. Abraham, who entertained without knowing who they were, received good news. The good news was that older Sarah would surely give birth to a son.
A woman who lived in Shunem knew that Elisha passing by was a holy man of God and treated him with sincerity.
The Apostle Paul said, "Be diligent in providing the saints with their needs and hospitality" (Romans 12:13), and the Hebrew writer said, "Don't forget to treat guests.
Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive the prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 10:41-42).
On the day of judgment, the sheep on the right hand fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, looked after the sick and the prisoners.
(3) Think of the prisoners and the oppressed: At that time, those who preached the gospel were persecuted and sometimes imprisoned and beaten.
Just because I am free and at peace, I must not forget those who are afflicted. “Consider the prisoner, as you also are in prison with yourself, and think of the oppressed, since you also have a body.”
2. Building a holy home
Sex is a blessing given in God's plan for human growth and prosperity. You can enjoy true joy and peace when your sex life takes place within the love and contract between husband and wife.
However, many people think of sex only as a tool for pleasure and use it as an opposite.
We must heed the saying, "Let marriage be honorable and the bed undefiled."
(1) Respect marriage: Christians should not be deceived, although it is easy to say that if you love each other, you can have sex or that it is okay to get married. “Respect marriage.” In particular, marriage should be done through worship so that the vow can be made before God. They become one body only after making a marriage vow in front of God and in the presence of witnesses. And you should not cherish your marriage vows and get a divorce. “What God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6).
“Whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9).
(2) God's judgment: "God will judge the fornicators and adulterers"
God judges those who love pleasures more than God and act contrary to God (Romans 1:26-27).
3. To have a self-sufficient heart
“Do not love money, but be content with what you have.”
“Those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and destruction. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. He pierced himself with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
How can you have a contented heart? It is possible when we believe in the words of the Lord Himself.
“I will never leave you, nor will I ever leave you.”
Those who believe in this word can boldly say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
* In the last days, people will have selfish, greedy, and sensual love (2 Timothy 3:1-5). But we must not imitate the generations. Let's truly love our neighbors, build a godly family, and let go of all greed and depend only on the Lord. The Lord will never forsake anyone who lives that way.