Closing Exhortations

Exhortation: an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something. I just finished reading Hebrews tonight. The last book in Hebrews, chapter 13 as all about closing exhortations and a final greeting. There are bits and pieces from all over this chapter that really stuck out me and I wanted to share them with you to encourage you.

Hebrews 13:1-3: Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Keep on loving one another. That phrase is written all over the bible and that is because it is the most important commandment that God gives us. The love he talks about isn't a love that you would show a significant other, but a love and a heart for all people. There are so many things you can do out of love, saying hi to people you don't normally talk to is showing love. I bet that God smiles when things like that are happening. Also don't forget to show hospitality towards strangers. I have heard before that there are angels all around us. Angels disguised as humans. I don't know about you but if there are angles out there I don't want to miss those encounters.

This next section is what I think was the most important part of scripture that I read tonight.

God said: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 

So should say with confidence,

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

This is so important because God literally tells us that he will never never you or forsake you. The last part especially sticks out to me. Trying saying that with confidence a few times and it will start to get engraved on your brain.

The last part I want to share with you comes from Hebrews 13:7-8: Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

I want you to sit where you are right now and think of that people that have shared their faith with you and have had a really huge impact on you. We are called to imitate those special people. If we show love to other people like they showed love to us, then somebody is certainly to notice since you did. When I read that I thought of a man from my church back home who told the church one Sunday that he wakes up every morning, reads his bible and then he scrolls through the contacts on his phone and he sends texts out to people about what we read to encourage them every single day. A couple of months ago I remembered that moment and I began to do that too, and that has led to this blog. Long story short, I believe that if you imitate those who shared Christ's loves to others and yourself that the Spirit will do some pretty amazing things to your life.

There were a couple of different ideas that I shared tonight with you, I hope that some of them stick out to you and that the Holy Spirit really uses them to encourage you.

~ you are loved ~