To the People of the Tribes of Wrestles with Creator 13
13
LOVE AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
1Keep loving each other as brothers and sisters of the sacred family. 2Do not forget to be kind and welcoming to strangers, for in this way some have welcomed spirit-messengers without knowing it. 3Keep the ones who are in prison in your thoughts as if you were there with them, and those who are mistreated as if you in your own body shared their suffering.
4Marriage is honorable, and the marriage bed is pure, but Creator will decide the guilt of all who are sexually impure and unfaithful in marriage. 5Keep yourselves free from the love of possessions and be at peace with what you have. For the Great Spirit himself has said, “I will never leave you or give up on you.”#13:5 Deuteronomy 31:6 6Because of this we can boldly say, “The Great Spirit Chief is the one who stands with me. Why would I fear what human beings can do?”#13:6 Psalm 118:6
WISE WORDS OF COUNSEL AND COURAGE
7Never forget the ones who blazed the trail before you, the ones who were first to tell you the message of Creator’s good story. Think deeply about the manner in which they lived and died, and follow in their way of trusting.
8Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One remains the same yesterday, today, and to the time beyond the end of all days.
9Do not let all kinds of strange teachings take you down a wrong path. For our hearts are made strong by the gift of Creator’s great kindness, not from following rules about what foods to eat. These kinds of rules have not helped those who have followed after them.
10The ones who still serve in the tent lodge on earth have no right to share in#13:10 Lit. eat from our ceremonial altar. 11For each year the chief holy man takes the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as an offering for the people’s broken ways. The bodies of those animals are then burned outside the camp. 12Creator Sets Free (Jesus) offered his own lifeblood to make the people holy and suffered outside the village gate. 13So then, let us join him outside the camp, sharing in the same kind of disrespect and shame that he suffered. 14For we are not seeking an earthly village that will fade away. We are seeking the village that is coming down from the spirit-world above, one that will remain.#13:14 Revelation 21:2
MORE WISE COUNSEL
15So then, through Creator Sets Free (Jesus), let us keep giving thanks as a sacrificial offering to the Great Spirit. This is the fruit of our lips, giving honor to him and all that his name represents. 16And do not forget to do good and share with those who are in need, for these are also sacrificial gifts that make Creator’s heart glad.
17Follow the guidance of your spiritual leaders and give way to their instructions. For they must give an answer for the guidance they provide. So let them do so with glad hearts and not with sorrow, for that would not be a good thing for you.
KEEP SENDING UP PRAYERS
18Keep sending up prayers for us, for deep inside we are sure that we are walking in a good and honorable way. 19I ask you this with all my heart, so that I may soon return to you.
20The Great Spirit of Peace is the one who raised up from the dead our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the Great Shepherd of the sheep. It is through his lifeblood that we now have a peace treaty that will last beyond the end of all days. 21May the Great Provider give you everything you need to do what he wants done. He is working, through Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, to do in us the things that make his heart glad. He is to be given all honor to the time beyond the end of all days. Aho! May it be so!
FINAL WORDS
22So now, my relatives, I counsel you to take to heart this short message. I have written it to lift you up and give you strength. 23I want you to know that our spiritual brother He Gives Honor (Timothy) has been set free from prison. If he comes soon, we will travel together to see you. 24Greet all your spiritual leaders and all of Creator’s holy ones. I send you greetings from those in Land of Young Bulls (Italy).
25May the gift of Creator’s great kindness be with you all.
Aho! May it be so!
Currently Selected:
To the People of the Tribes of Wrestles with Creator 13: FNVNT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright ©2023 InterVarsity Press