ene Roverio 36 LOVE ONE ANOTHER Background Passage: Hebrews 13:1-25 Lesson Passages: Hebrews 13:1-8,12-19 | BIBLICAL TRUTH Christian love is to gov- ern how Christian believ- ers relate to others, KEY BIBLE VERSE Hebrews 13:1 BANANASTOCK/WUNCHSTOCK/RETIREMENT HOMBRE a CA their best, the hymns and praise songs of our faith reflect the deepest spiritual truth. This association is never more evident than in the hymns that reflect the God of love, who calls each of us to be like Him in our love for one another. What hymns about Christian love have been important in your walk with Christ through the years? For instance, I remember singing years ago, “They'll know we are Christians by our love.” Love is so important in our faith. The heart of God’s redemptive plan is based on love: “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son...” (see John 3:16). In addition, love is the badge of discipleship. “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (see John 13:35). Therefore, it is no surprise that the author of Hebrews placed a great emphasis on letting love govern one’s life. Let’s be honest. It is not easy to love all people. Many are difficult to love. However, God expects us to welcome the stranger, befriend the friendless, and love the unlovely. This is the heart of the teaching in this last chapter of Hebrews. Up to this point our study has been mostly theological. In the conclusion of his letter, the writer became very per- sonal and extremely practical. ~ ~ Week of November 26oe masa TIONS 1. To what two groups were the Hebrews to show love? (13:3) 2. What quality were believers to imitate in their leaders? (13:7) 3. Identify three kinds of sacrifices expected of believers. (13:15-16) 4. iy proper responses to godly leadership in the church should and - (13:17) BACKGROUND PASSAGE OVERVIEW Chapter 13 begins with a series of exhortations built around the theme of Christian love. We should love one an- other, strangers in need of hospitality, and prisoners in need of help. Faithfulness in marriage is essential. Covetousness should be replaced with contentment, Christians are also to practice and to express love in their spiritual lives. We are to imitate our leaders in their faith in our unchanging Lord. We are to realize that true religion is an inward experience of God’s grace, not the result of anything external, such as what we eat. Our Lord suffered rejection, abuse, and death in order to save those who believe in Him. Our lives are to be a sacrifice of praise and an example of service to others. We are to fol- low our leaders joyfully and prayerfully. A magnificent doxology is followed by a closing salutation. Love PEOPLE (HEB. 13:1-6) 1 Let brotherly love continue. 1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospi- tality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remem- ber the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodi- ly. 4 Marriage must be respect- ed by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares, 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. MB Love One Another5 Your life should be free from 5 Let your conversation be the Jove of money. Be satisfied | without covetousness; and be with what you have, for He content with such things as ye Himself has said, I will never have: for he hath said, { will leave you or forsake you. never leave thee, nor forsake 6 Therefore, we may boldly thee. say: The Lord is my helper; I 6 So that we may boldly say, will not be afraid. What can The Lord is my helper, and I man do to me? will not fear what man shall do unto me. Verse 1. Brotherly love comes from the Greek word phila- delphia. The word used for love in John 3:16 is agape, the highest form of love. The writer of Hebrews was not calling for a lower level of love, but was demanding that believers treat others as esteemed members of the family. Continue is “ven though an imperative and, as such, is a command to be practiced love toward always. The idea would be to keep on loving each other. others is cleas- Verse 2. Verses 2-3 give two ways to demonstrate this kind a pomens out of love. One concerns the time-honored practice of showing chanel do hospitality to strangers. Hospitality was a practical matter of we really considerable importance since wayfarers’ hostels, wherever demonstrate they existed, were notoriously immoral. Even today in the _ this in our daily Middle East, demonstrating hospitality in the home is an_ lives? What important basis for friendship. could be a Hospitality was a quality required in Christian leaders (see P@9Nning 1 Tim. 3:2). Jesus even went as far as to say that whoever point? (43:1) entertained a servant of the Lord entertained the Lord Him- self (see Matt. 25;44-45). Verse 3. Two groups are to be shown special love: prison- ers and the mistreated, We need to identify with those who are imprisoned and mistreated for their Christian commit- ment. Such persecution could happen to us! I well remember my conversation with missionary Sam Cannata during a mission trip to Ethiopia. He vividly told of his unjust imprisonment in that country and the supportive love of fellow missionaries and loyal native believers, Such help could be demonstrated by bringing food, providing warm clothing for those damp, moldy cells, and making per- sonal visits of encouragement. Week of November 26