As I was reading in Hebrews chapter 13 this morning there were a couple of things that really stuck out to me. The passage was titled "Concluding Exhortations," and there were bits and pieces out of that scripture that stuck out to me and I felt led to encourage you with.
There are 8 little bits of instruction/reminders that I pulled out of Hebrews 13 and I am going to touch on all 8.
1. Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters
No matter what the circumstances are we should always keep on loving each other. The greatest commandment is to love one another and that is what pleases God. When things are going well, love one another, when things aren't, love one another. Love all the time. One thing that I have found is that when you love, it becomes contagious. When I see people loving on other people, it makes me want to love on other people.
2. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers
This can be a little difficult. Sometimes it is easy to just blow off strangers because they're different than we are. But have you have tried being hospitable towards someone you don't know? Or look at it this way, has a stranger ever showed you hospitality? I think of the mission trips I have been on. Whatever country I have been in, strangers from that country have willingly invited me into their homes. It's just how life is for them. I don't know why that is such a difficult concept to accept in America, but when hospitality is shown towards strangers, amazing things can happen. I think that we automatically assume that strangers are totally different than us and we don't want anything to do with them. Well I will tell you this, there is no such thing as a stranger. We are all children of God.
3. Remember those who are in prison
Now this one is a little difficult for me to expand on. I can't say that I know many people who are in prison, but when you think about it, there are hundred and thousands of prisoners all over the world. We can't just forget about them and think that they are irrelevant to everything. Sure, some prisoners have done some very bad things, but they can be forgiven and they have an equal opportunity to come to Christ just like you and me. I know that there are prison ministries out there and maybe you might be called to do that someday.
4. Remember those who have mistreated you
This is an important one. When you are mistreated it can become easy to hold grudges. It's easy to blow off someone once they mistreat you. You think to yourself that you do not want any part of them because the way that they mistreated you. That is what Satan wants you to do. Don't forget about anyone who has mistreated you. Always try to remember them because they might just be struggling with something that caused them to act the way that they did. Remember that someday every knee will bow before the Lord.
5. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure
I am not an expert about marriage...obviously. Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept pure. I don't know what that means for you, but for me it means waiting till marriage. It also means adds an importance to what marriage is and the things that you can do when you become married.
6. Be in love with what you have
This really spoke to me. I was really encouraged by this. As I have grown a little bit older, I have come to realize that I really don't need many things. I need my bible, my journal, and my computer so that I can write. I also need some workout clothes, basketball shoes, and clothes. Then of course some food and water. Don't get me wrong, there are still things I want, but I understand what I actually need. What I need on a daily basis is time with God. That is something that I have everyday and I am absolutely in love with God. This is funny, but I don't really have many nice dress clothes because it is hard to find stuff that fits well for me, I don't have much but I love what I have. (maybe a dumb example) Being a college student, you usually don't have much food. But when I do have food in the room, I really love what I have. I also love what I have when it comes to relationships with people. Nothing beats that, besides a relationship with Christ of course. So I encourage you, be in love with what you have. Sit down and really think about. I am sure that you can come up with so many things that you are happy with in your life. Sometimes you have to really sit back and think in order to remember some of the ways in which God has blessed you.
7. Remember your leaders
Remember the people who pour into your life. Parents, teachers, professors, coaches, mentors, friends, you name it. I know for me, I would not be where I am today without the people who have been right by my side to encourage me. I can't stress enough the important of surrounding yourself with people who will hold you accountable and help strengthen your relationship with Christ. If you can begin to from those types of relationships and connections at a young age, you will be so much further ahead in life than so many people. If you are looking for someone to hold you accountable and someone to have a Christ centered friendship with reach out! Reach out to me, or reach out to people who you know have Christ as #1 in your life. Over the past couple of weeks mentors who I really look up to have told me how they wish that when they were my age they started developing Christ centered friendships. I remember those things because of the love and respect I have for my leaders. Never forget about the people who helped get you where you are today. Remembering your leaders is very important in this life.
8. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings
I can't stress the importance of this enough. The world wants you to live one way and God wants you to live another. There are so many things out there in the life that seem to be right. Our culture is a culture that wants you to experience immediate satisfaction in anything that you do. Our culture is very centered around pleasure. Remember that things under the sun are meaningless. Everything under the sun will not last forever. What lies above the sun is what will last forever. Stay true to the word of God. That is the truth. Part of the reason I started this blog was because I got into the word on a daily basis and over the summer I learned amazing things every single day I opened my bible. I didn't want to keep it all to myself. I wanted to share it with as many people as I could. Please my friends, don't forget the important of getting into the word. It will change your life. It will also help you distinguish the things that come from God and the things that are of this world.
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I want to close with a prayer.
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing is will, and may he work in us what us pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
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