Hebrews: The Daily Discipline of a Devoted LifeSample

Hebrews is a book that begins like a sermon, and ends like a letter. Often you will find at the end of New Testament letters a list of practical exhortations that are not linked with the main argument of the letter, but apply to every Christian, for all time. And the exhortations Hebrews chooses are very relevant: 

• Love your brothers. We do that not just sentimentally with hugs and kisses, but practically by showing hospitality to those who need it, and by standing alongside those who are suffering – in the Hebrews’ case, those who were in prison. Love is not about words or emotions, but practical service to one another.  
• Honour marriage. With divorce statistics within the church as rife as in the secular world, we need to keep faithful to our spouse. ‘God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral’ (v. 4), and Christians are no more immune to sexual unfaithfulness than King David, the writer of Psalms, who observed Bathsheba from his balcony in the pale moonlight (2 Sam. 11). We betray our marriages, not just through affairs, but through computer screens! Keep our heart pure.  
• Be content. Having money isn’t a problem, but loving it is! We are to ‘be content with what you have’ (v. 5), knowing that God is enough, wealth is fleeting, and heaven is more glorious than we can imagine. Don’t store up treasure here – if you’re wealthy, give unusual amounts to God’s kingdom and watch it transform the hopes of the poor. Store up treasure in heaven where your stocks and shares are always on the rise!  
• Respect your leaders. The command of verses 7–8 isn’t asking us to obey leaders whatever they do, for leaders fail as much as anyone. But it is effectively saying, ‘Put into practice whatever good you see in your leaders, and pray for them as men who must give account.’ Make your leader’s job a pleasure, not a headache! 

Of course the ultimate question is ‘Why should we keep all these moral commands?’ This isn’t about doing good to earn God’s favour. We already have God’s favour in Christ. No, we do all these good works because ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever’ (v. 8). Our good works are a response to his grace, his greatness, his love and his beauty. Good works are not our way to heaven; they are our thanks for the one who got us there! We are saved by grace, but we also live by grace every day.

Reflection

Do you love in word only, or also in deeds?