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Hebrews 13:1-25 Remember, Remember – Others!

by on August 05, 2021

When we look at the last chapter of any of the epistles, the writers often follow the same pattern of summing up all that has been written in the preceding chapters and verses and concluded with a blessing or prayer of some form for the reader to receive.  This is a pattern still used today in almost all written or verbal presentations.  Indeed at school I can remember being taught that one should begin with an introduction before getting into the substance of the piece and then finish with a conclusion which collects all the topics covered. So too has the author of this letter to the Hebrews but are those concluding references written in turn of importance?

If we accept that they were, then the most important is to keep loving each other. That isn’t just the people we know and love, but includes the stranger or the prisoner who may at first sight seem to be not very loveable.  This is something that was relevant at the time of writing and is still relevant to us today. The readers of this letter were mostly Jewish converts who were familiar with the Old Testament and were tempted either to revert to Judaism or to import Jewish ideas or practices into the gospel. The letter seeks to emphasise that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to Old Testament to completion.

How different would your life look if you applied any or all of the requests the writer of this letter asks the reader to observe. Maybe you already follow all of the suggestions made, or most of them in any case.  Sometimes we can feel that we are doing everything we can in our given circumstances, and that’s a great thing. Being content is indeed a wonderful state of mind to possess v.5. But what if there was something you could change that would or could make a difference? It might be buying an extra item in the supermarket and putting in the food bank donation box, or driving someone to an appointment that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend.  Things that make a difference to others and the world around us don’t have to be financially costly but they may require the gift of our time. Jesus always had time for those He met and lived alongside. I pray that we would all imitate Our Lord today and always.

 

 

 

 

 

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Teach me oh God how to imitate the life of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ for your glory now and always, Amen.

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