The Sanctified Life

Hebrews 13:1-25
1Let brotherly love continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” 7Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.

As this letter to the Hebrews draws to a close, the writer makes a laundry list of what the Christian life looks like. We have studied the place of Jesus Christ as our all-sufficient Great High Priest. He has offered the final perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Hebrews makes that case with power. At the same time, suffice it to say the list is daunting.
  1. Let love continue
  2. Show hospitality
  3. Remember prisoners/the mistreated
  4. Hold marriage with honor / keep the marriage bed undefiled
  5. Be free from the love of money
  6. Be content
  7. Remember our leaders / imitate their faith (!)
  8. No diverse or strange teachings
  9. Seek the city that is to come
  10. Offer a sacrifice of praise
  11. Do good and share what you have
  12. Obey your leaders
Well wow! That’s quite a list. I’m overwhelmed by the things that deserve my attention as I go through each day. Just last night I was with a small group doing some meditation on John 1:1-9 and in the minutes of quite thought, I was challenged by the Spirit to allow the Light of Jesus to permeate all of my darkness – all of it. That brought on quite a time of confession and soul searching as I held up my life to that Light and came up wanting. The things that needed attention would certainly fall onto this list from Hebrews.

But – and this is a huge caveat to the list --   ... may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I’m not in the fight alone. In fact, I don’t have any of the equipment I need to fulfill even one item on this list. Instead, I lean into the peace of God who equips me with everything good. The Lord may ask these things of my life, but with the same breath He provides what I need to make it happen. To Jesus Christ belongs all the glory.

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