October 12, 2020

Hey, Ferb! I Know What We're Going to Do Today!

Hebrews 13:1–16

Henry Lakey
Monday's Devo

October 12, 2020

Monday's Devo

October 12, 2020

Central Truth

God has placed leaders in our lives to strengthen us, to correct us, and to rebuke us. They are not here to intimidate us or to rob us of our happiness, but to call us to pursue Christ and to encourage by reminding us that Christ is the only source of joy.

Key Verse | Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:1–16

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
    I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent 1 13:10 Or tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Footnotes

[1] 13:10 Or tabernacle

Dive Deeper | Hebrews 13:1–16

What does it mean to be a Christian? As I think about this question, my mind immediately drifts toward the pursuit of perfection and abstention from anything fun. Unfortunately, this ideology of abstaining from fun things has become a common view of Christianity for both non-Christians and Christians alike. But Hebrews 13 reminds us that Christianity is not about following a rule-set or "trying our best" not to mess up. Instead, because Christ died for us and rose from the grave, we know that God forgives us and we forgive one another. Hebrews 13 doesn't list off all the things we shouldn't do so we don't make God angry. Rather, it emphasizes several things we should do in order to honor Christ as a response to the grace that He has given us.

But these things are not easy to do. The world's temptations to sin entice us and make it difficult to do what Hebrews 13 says. Love one another. Show hospitality to strangers. Remain sexually pure. Those are only a few of the things listed that we should do to honor God. How do we remain steadfast in pursuing God? Graciously, God has placed leaders in our lives to show us how to follow Him.

In sixth grade I joined a small group of other sixth grade guys and two leaders through Watermark. These godly leaders have demonstrated the unmatched benefits of following Christ. They have shown us how to lovingly hold one another accountable to following Christ. Through them sharing their own life experiences and demonstrating the amount of joy that they possess because of Christ, many of us have discovered what pursuing Christ looks like and chosen to pursue Him ourselves.

God utilizes His leaders to show other Christians and non-believers how wonderful it is to follow Christ: everlasting joy, eternal life in heaven, forgiveness for our sins, and infinitely more! But God doesn't just designate a few special individuals to be His leaders. He desires for us all to be leaders. Whom has God placed before you to lead well today?

Discussion Questions

1. No, seriously. That wasn't a rhetorical question above. Whom has God placed in your life for you to lead?

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader? If you don't know, ask someone whose opinion you trust.

3. Who are some of the leaders God has placed in your life? How have they benefited you in your walk with Christ? Have you thanked them recently?