2023/08/30 - Hebrews 13: Service Pleasing to God
Jerry Starling
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Online Activity Today
Daily Check-in at 8:30 a.m. I.D. 846 941 77976 Passcode: meet
Mid-Week Bible Study at 7:30 pm. Live on Facebook.com/central.cofc
Reading: Hebrews 13 – Service Pleasing God
Verse for Today
Let marriage be held in honor by all and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. (Hebrews 13:4)
Daily Devo
Brotherly Love
Jesus said, “Everyone will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” Love is the distinctive Christian virtue. Hence, we find, “Let brotherly love continue” (KJV, 13:1).
This is followed by “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels unaware.” Hospitality is one mark of an elder (1 Tim. 3:2).
Love was extended to those in prison and remembered, “as though you were in prison with them and those being tortured as being tortured with them.” Love was everywhere in Christianity.
Christian Marriage
One difference between Christians and the world was faithfulness in marriage. “Let marriage be held in honor by all and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.” Paul wrote, “This God’s will, your holiness; abstain from fornication, that you control your body in holiness, not with lustful passion like the Pagans” (1 Thess. 4:3-5a).
One Pagan commented that Christians were generous with everything they had – except their wives, whom they would not share.
Money Matters
There is also a difference between Christians and the world in using money. The Hebrews writer says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (1 Tim. 6:10) Being eager to be rich has led some away from the faith.
Being content gives you a blessing, “For He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you,’ so you can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”’
Remember Your Leaders
‘Leaders’ here includes, but is not limited to, elders. All who teach the word to you are included. Watch them and imitate their faith. Do not be carried away by strange teachings. Be strengthened by grace not by regulations concerning food and drink.
Jesus suffered outside the city to sanctify us with His own blood. Let us go to Him outside to “bear the abuse He endured.” Let us always offer a sacrifice of praise to God through Him. “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
In verse seventeen, I do believe elders are meant. “Obey” them is not the same word as “Obey God rather than man.” This word means “to be persuaded by them.” “They watch for your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy, not with sighing.” Pray for them and submit to their persuasion.
The writer asks us to “bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written briefly,” ten pages in my Bible – pages packed full of teaching, encouragement, and warnings. All point to the supremacy of Christ and His way over the Old Covenant.
Hebrews contrasts the Old and New Covenants, not to deny the Law, but to show us a new, better way of salvation.
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Pray for Yourself
Father, I pray Jesus will always be my shepherd, my Lord, and my king. In His name I pray, AMEN!
My Prayer for You (and for me)
Father, I offer this prayer for all who read these words. I pray that each of us looks at chapter thirteen as the acceptable worship mentioned at the end of chapter twelve. See worship as a way of life, not a series of rituals to perform. This is my prayer, in His precious, holy name, AMEN!
Updates for Central
Due to the inclement weather likely this evening, there will be no service at the building tonight. Mark is putting together a devotional on FaceBook for 7:30 pm. The church's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/Central-cofc.
SonQuest starts on Friday. If you are going, get ready for three days of fun mixed with some great Bible teaching. Come back fired up for Jesus!
The morning Ladies’ Class resumes at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 6. All ladies are invited to participate.
Kid’s Club will be September 16 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Kendra Crist is in charge.
Our Eastern European Mission “Million Dollar Sunday” contribution will be on September 24. Our contribution that day will go to EEM for Bibles for the former Soviet bloc nations. Last year, EEM distributed 1,960,00 Bibles, up 24% from ‘21. They hope for more this year.
PRAYER NEEDS
Susan Allen is scheduled for a surgical procedure today. Keep her in your prayers.
Cindi Crist will have a surgical procedure on Friday, September 1 and is anxious about it. Keep her in your prayers.
Jennifer San Juan asked for more prayer for her daughter, Dawn. She is not doing very well, and Jennifer is deeply concerned.
Carl Bolli asks for prayers, as he fell a couple of weeks ago. Joy Bland, who lives four doors from Carl, has been helping him. He also asks for prayers for her.
Lee Cain asked for prayers for Mike & Kathryn Hartman. She had a head-on collision when a car came across the median directly into her. She is out of the hospital, but still has more surgery to face. Pray for both, as he owns his own business, and this is taking much time away from it.
Nancy Gray has been diagnosed as having Covid. Please pray for her as she recovers.
Joan Berry, Joanna Turner’s Mother, needs our prayers.
Carol Grandey, Brenda Schmidt’s sister, is home and ready to enter rehab. Keep her in your prayers.
Jesse Matthews, Sr. Ruth said he is in rehab. Their daughter is also still recuperating from a broken ankle. She needs prayers as does the whole family.
Kristi Holder is planning to be at SonQuest. Jerry says she improves daily and will be taking it easy at SonQuest. Keep her in your prayers.
Joy Bland found she has a broken bone in her foot that requires a boot to help it heal. She will have it for about six weeks, with an MRI (hopefully) coming soon. She recently told me she really needs our prayers to help her through.
Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers.
Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers.
Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.