Setting – Loving others and reminders that God won’t forsake us
Content – With fellow believers we need to (v. 1 NLT) “Continue to love each other with true Christian love”. We shouldn’t (v. 2 NLT) “forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” And not to (v. 3 NLT) “forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies” Basically, (v. 16 NLT) “Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God”
We are to (v. 4a NLT) “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage” because (v. 4b NLT) “God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery”. We need avoid (v. 5a NLT) “the love of money” but rather (v. 5a NLT) “be satisfied with what you have”. Because (v. 5b NLT) “God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you” Knowing that God is with us we (v. 6 NLT) “can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” We need to support those who lead us (v. 7). We are not to be distracted with new ideas (v. 8).
We need to remind ourselves that (v. 14 NLT) “this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come”
Verse 20 (NLT) is a great closing summary “And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen”
Application – We are to love, serve, help and think of others, this is a foundational element of Christianity. Believers are martyred, mistreated, imprisoned, etc. we need to pray and support our family of believers. If we are the mistreated we need to reminder ourselves “this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come” It is comforting to know that God said “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you” Because of this truth, “I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
The believer’s life is not an easy one. It’s hard to live our life in enemy territory (earth). But we are ambassadors for God. And as ambassadors God supports His mission that He has given us; He will “equip you with all you need for doing his will”. Because life is hard we need to all the more love, serve, and help and support fellow believers. We need to support those who lead us. One main reason is because (v. 17 NLT) “Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God”
Content – With fellow believers we need to (v. 1 NLT) “Continue to love each other with true Christian love”. We shouldn’t (v. 2 NLT) “forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” And not to (v. 3 NLT) “forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies” Basically, (v. 16 NLT) “Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God”
We are to (v. 4a NLT) “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage” because (v. 4b NLT) “God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery”. We need avoid (v. 5a NLT) “the love of money” but rather (v. 5a NLT) “be satisfied with what you have”. Because (v. 5b NLT) “God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you” Knowing that God is with us we (v. 6 NLT) “can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” We need to support those who lead us (v. 7). We are not to be distracted with new ideas (v. 8).
We need to remind ourselves that (v. 14 NLT) “this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come”
Verse 20 (NLT) is a great closing summary “And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen”
Application – We are to love, serve, help and think of others, this is a foundational element of Christianity. Believers are martyred, mistreated, imprisoned, etc. we need to pray and support our family of believers. If we are the mistreated we need to reminder ourselves “this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come” It is comforting to know that God said “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you” Because of this truth, “I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
The believer’s life is not an easy one. It’s hard to live our life in enemy territory (earth). But we are ambassadors for God. And as ambassadors God supports His mission that He has given us; He will “equip you with all you need for doing his will”. Because life is hard we need to all the more love, serve, and help and support fellow believers. We need to support those who lead us. One main reason is because (v. 17 NLT) “Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God”
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