LET
BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE
Hebrews 13:12-17
New International Version (NIV)
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
KEY LESSONS IN FAITH
Faith accepts the Bible’s record of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished on our behalf. It also draws near to God and clings to Him tenaciously. The believer accepts the benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice and enters God’s presence with confidence. Faith believes the Bible implicitly, knowing it is God’s living self-expression and so submits to its judgment. Finally, faith is willing to suffer with Christ, knowing it will receive a good reward.
Recognize that following
Jesus brings reproach. Do not fear human mockery, rejection, and scorn.
THE BLOOD. Consistent with the themes of the sufficiency and superiority of Christ’s atoning work apart from Judaism, and of the futility of Christians either submitting or resubmitting themselves to the structures of Judalistic religion, the epistle writer assures his audience that Christ’s death was a allowing act for them. Obviously, there were those both inside and outside the Christian community who insisted that there could be no right standing with God apart from wholehearted embrace and observance of Jewish ceremonies, rituals, and behavioral codes. This verse builds upon the fact that the bodies of animals used in burnt offerings were burned outside the geographical precincts of Jerusalem. In a similar manner. Christ’s death went beyond the precincts of Judaic tradition to set apart believers for the use work of God. Without respect to any righteous acts on the part of believers. Christ nevertheless positions them as saints.
13:10-15 The sacrifice of
Praise, PRAISE PATHWAY. Why is praising God a sacrifice? The
word "sacrifice" (Greek thusia)
comes from the root thuo, a verb meaning "to kill or slaughter for a purpose." Praise often
requires that we kill our pride, fear, or sloth – anything that threatens to
diminish or interfere with our worship of the Lord. We also discover here the
basis of all our praise; the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by Him
in Him, with Him, to Him, and for Him that we offer our sacrifice of praise to
God. Praise will never be successfully hindered when we keep its focus on Him –
the Founder and Completer of our salvation. His Cross, His Blood - His love,
gift of life and forgiveness to us – keep praise as a living sacrifice!
13:11, 12 On
the Day of Atonement the bodies of the animals whose blood was carried into the
Holy of Holies were burned without the camp (Lev.16:14, 27). Jesus, the
antitype of this sacrifice, was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem (John
19:16, 17).
In Christ,
Playwright
Janet Irene Thomas
Bible
Stories Theatre of
Fine
& Performing Arts
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