Hebrews 13:1-8. Jesus is important for ALL of life!! 29/8/10
(1) Keep on loving each other as brothers. {2} Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. {3} Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. {4} Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. {5} Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" {7} Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. {8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Recently I read this quotation from Peter Berger. “The most common delusion …. is the conviction of ministers that what they preach on Sunday has a direct influence on what their listeners do on Monday….. The reality, of course, is that the person listening to the minister in the church is a radically different one from the person who makes economic decisions the next day…… In this second life of his the church is totally absent.”
Now does that mean that I am living in a fool’s paradise? Or does that mean that I only have to work on Sundays? Seriously, though, is this true? Is Christ, and what he has said and done for you, totally absent from your life from Monday to Saturday?
Unfortunately, it would appear that all too often that seems to be the case. Far too often, our lives are not in accord with the will of God. We don’t always love each other as brothers and sisters. We don’t always entertain strangers as God would have us. Often we do look down on those who are less fortunate than we are and those who are in prison. Marriage is not afforded the high regard that it should, any more. We do love our money and material things much more than we ought. We don’t trust that God and his ways are what is best for us.
Yes, we all are far from living out our lives every day, as we ought; and that is the very reason that this text was written. Here we are being reminded again, of just how God would have us live out our lives every day. Here we are encouraged to love one another as brothers and sisters, and that includes the stranger, those in prison, or who are down and out. We are exhorted to hold marriage up as a sacred institution, and to take a stand against sexual permissiveness and perversion. We are told not to let money and the material things of life take over our lives as if they are the be-all and end-all of life, but instead to be content with what we have.
Here our text is saying that, surely, the message that is preached on Sunday will influence the rest of our lives. The Christ that is proclaimed today, does make a difference to our attitudes and actions tomorrow. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” That means the he does influence peoples lives. Think back to the changes that came about in people’s lives 2,000 years ago when they came into contact with Jesus. Think back to the change that came upon Luther when he came to understand the Good News of Jesus Christ. This change is happening even today in many lives the world over. And here we are reminded that it will continue on in the future. To those who do not turn their backs on Jesus and reject him, he even today makes a difference. To those who allow him Jesus does help and guide them to live truly happy and contented lives.
The ways of the world are however not the same. Yes, they promise much; but they will not give you the peace, joy and hope that you long for. Don’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes. Those who chase after money are not happy and contented. And don’t be fooled into thinking that an extra few dollars is going to make all the difference.
The same goes for those who go from one bed to another – one woman or man to the other; they will not find the love and the perfect partner that they are looking for. That perfect man or woman is there in your marriage partner waiting to be released by Jesus Christ.
Those who put others down in order to make themselves look good do not find the satisfaction that they are looking for. While those who live selfish, self-centred lives will find that, they will have not only alienated themselves from the rest of society, but especially from God himself. They are all chasing after an illusion, which promises happiness and all the rest, but without Jesus at the centre, their search is fruitless. They unfortunately do not know that true peace and contentment comes alone from having Jesus Christ at work in a person’s life.
You and I however, surely have that peace and underlying joy. We surely have it because we know that this contentment and meaning comes from knowing how God would have us live our lives and most importantly from knowing that in connection with Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sins and the assure of life and salvation. We know these words that God has spoken to us; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Now those words surely make a difference to our attitudes and actions every day. Jesus is with us – all day – every day. He is with us every time we meet a fellow human being: in our marriage relationship; whenever we make a business decision. In all of those situations, he does not walk away and leave us to our own means. He doesn’t turn a blind eye to our sin, and the details of how we live our lives. He is right there with us through it all; urging us to live life his way; and when we are devastated because we have failed to live as he would have us, he is there to assure us of his forgiveness and ongoing help.
Yes, surely, we here can say with confidence; "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" With that knowledge and confidence, we can step forward into every tomorrow and seek to do the best we can, no matter what our circumstances. We may have to be in some ways a different person from Monday to Saturday than we are on Sunday, but the same Lord Jesus is there with us. We may face different situations in our life, but the same Christian principles apply. Even though the world we live in out there is the same as what everyone else lives in, the way we live in it will be quite different. It surely must be totally different. The way of our Lord and the ways of the world are not compatible.
As we go forward with Christ beside us, helping us in every aspect of life we will then be witnesses of the power, love and greatness of our God. As we live our lives in accord with God’s will, then others will sit up and take notice. Yes, some will ridicule, but others will then want to know more.
Yes, we know what they say when our lives do not match what we say and believe. But they will also take note when they see that we have something that is way beyond the expectations of the world around them: When they see that we have a peace and underlying joy, and the assurance of forgiveness in Jesus Christ, that is not usual for the society around them; Then they will have to make a decision one way or the other if they want Jesus forgiveness and help or not.
Let us here recognise that the more our world around us is moving away from the way that God would have us think, live and act, the more we need to seek God’s help to do so. The more the morals and beliefs of our society crumbles around us, the more we need to help and encourage one another to live as Christ would have us.
So, Keep on loving each other as brothers. {2} Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. {3} Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. {4} Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. {5} Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" {7} Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. {8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
(1) Keep on loving each other as brothers. {2} Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. {3} Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. {4} Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. {5} Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" {7} Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. {8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Recently I read this quotation from Peter Berger. “The most common delusion …. is the conviction of ministers that what they preach on Sunday has a direct influence on what their listeners do on Monday….. The reality, of course, is that the person listening to the minister in the church is a radically different one from the person who makes economic decisions the next day…… In this second life of his the church is totally absent.”
Now does that mean that I am living in a fool’s paradise? Or does that mean that I only have to work on Sundays? Seriously, though, is this true? Is Christ, and what he has said and done for you, totally absent from your life from Monday to Saturday?
Unfortunately, it would appear that all too often that seems to be the case. Far too often, our lives are not in accord with the will of God. We don’t always love each other as brothers and sisters. We don’t always entertain strangers as God would have us. Often we do look down on those who are less fortunate than we are and those who are in prison. Marriage is not afforded the high regard that it should, any more. We do love our money and material things much more than we ought. We don’t trust that God and his ways are what is best for us.
Yes, we all are far from living out our lives every day, as we ought; and that is the very reason that this text was written. Here we are being reminded again, of just how God would have us live out our lives every day. Here we are encouraged to love one another as brothers and sisters, and that includes the stranger, those in prison, or who are down and out. We are exhorted to hold marriage up as a sacred institution, and to take a stand against sexual permissiveness and perversion. We are told not to let money and the material things of life take over our lives as if they are the be-all and end-all of life, but instead to be content with what we have.
Here our text is saying that, surely, the message that is preached on Sunday will influence the rest of our lives. The Christ that is proclaimed today, does make a difference to our attitudes and actions tomorrow. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” That means the he does influence peoples lives. Think back to the changes that came about in people’s lives 2,000 years ago when they came into contact with Jesus. Think back to the change that came upon Luther when he came to understand the Good News of Jesus Christ. This change is happening even today in many lives the world over. And here we are reminded that it will continue on in the future. To those who do not turn their backs on Jesus and reject him, he even today makes a difference. To those who allow him Jesus does help and guide them to live truly happy and contented lives.
The ways of the world are however not the same. Yes, they promise much; but they will not give you the peace, joy and hope that you long for. Don’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes. Those who chase after money are not happy and contented. And don’t be fooled into thinking that an extra few dollars is going to make all the difference.
The same goes for those who go from one bed to another – one woman or man to the other; they will not find the love and the perfect partner that they are looking for. That perfect man or woman is there in your marriage partner waiting to be released by Jesus Christ.
Those who put others down in order to make themselves look good do not find the satisfaction that they are looking for. While those who live selfish, self-centred lives will find that, they will have not only alienated themselves from the rest of society, but especially from God himself. They are all chasing after an illusion, which promises happiness and all the rest, but without Jesus at the centre, their search is fruitless. They unfortunately do not know that true peace and contentment comes alone from having Jesus Christ at work in a person’s life.
You and I however, surely have that peace and underlying joy. We surely have it because we know that this contentment and meaning comes from knowing how God would have us live our lives and most importantly from knowing that in connection with Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sins and the assure of life and salvation. We know these words that God has spoken to us; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Now those words surely make a difference to our attitudes and actions every day. Jesus is with us – all day – every day. He is with us every time we meet a fellow human being: in our marriage relationship; whenever we make a business decision. In all of those situations, he does not walk away and leave us to our own means. He doesn’t turn a blind eye to our sin, and the details of how we live our lives. He is right there with us through it all; urging us to live life his way; and when we are devastated because we have failed to live as he would have us, he is there to assure us of his forgiveness and ongoing help.
Yes, surely, we here can say with confidence; "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" With that knowledge and confidence, we can step forward into every tomorrow and seek to do the best we can, no matter what our circumstances. We may have to be in some ways a different person from Monday to Saturday than we are on Sunday, but the same Lord Jesus is there with us. We may face different situations in our life, but the same Christian principles apply. Even though the world we live in out there is the same as what everyone else lives in, the way we live in it will be quite different. It surely must be totally different. The way of our Lord and the ways of the world are not compatible.
As we go forward with Christ beside us, helping us in every aspect of life we will then be witnesses of the power, love and greatness of our God. As we live our lives in accord with God’s will, then others will sit up and take notice. Yes, some will ridicule, but others will then want to know more.
Yes, we know what they say when our lives do not match what we say and believe. But they will also take note when they see that we have something that is way beyond the expectations of the world around them: When they see that we have a peace and underlying joy, and the assurance of forgiveness in Jesus Christ, that is not usual for the society around them; Then they will have to make a decision one way or the other if they want Jesus forgiveness and help or not.
Let us here recognise that the more our world around us is moving away from the way that God would have us think, live and act, the more we need to seek God’s help to do so. The more the morals and beliefs of our society crumbles around us, the more we need to help and encourage one another to live as Christ would have us.
So, Keep on loving each other as brothers. {2} Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. {3} Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. {4} Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. {5} Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" {7} Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. {8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
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