the church loves

Hebrews 13:1-17

The Church Loves

In What If Jesus Had Never Been Born, Dr. D. James Kennedy lists the contributions Christianity has made to humanity in advancing medical care, education for all, capitalist economies, the status of women, and the launching of the scientific revolution.  Christians have championed the nuclear family, which has led to stable homes where children can flourish.  Most importantly, Christians have bestowed on society the concept of agape love (John 3:16; 13:34-35).

Six Ways We Are to Live Out Our Love As God’s People:

1. Love the Saints

•  “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”  Hebrews 13:1. The bond of friendship among believers should be like the bond between siblings.  But this has been increasingly challenging to live out due to 1) increased mobility; 2) the rise of smart phones and social media; and 3) sporadic church attendance which hinders relational closeness.

2. Love Strangers

• “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2. Wisdom is needed so we aren’t putting ourselves in unnecessarily dangerous situations.  As you minister to strangers, you may be serving angels like Abraham did in Genesis 18.

3. Love the Suffering

• “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”  Hebrews 13:3. In the ancient world, Christians were diligent in caring for the suffering, and it spoke volumes to a lost and dying world around them.

• We minister by 1) our presence (being there); 2) our provision as Jesus taught in Luke 10:30-37; and 3) our prayers. “Pray for one another that you may be healed.”  James 5:16. 

4. Love Your Spouse

• “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4. God dreamed up the whole idea of sex, and devised a plan that would not only bless mankind, but also remind us of our Lord’s intimate and unbreakable bond with his people (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:30-32).  

5. Love Your Shepherds

• “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7.  Pastors and church leaders, like everyone else, are tainted by sin.  Knowledge of the Bible alone is no guarantee they will live out their faith (I Corinthians 13:2).  Pray for pastors and leaders to be good examples (I Corinthians 11:1).

6. Love Your Savior

• And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy thru his own blood. Let us, then go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.  For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are to look for the city that is to come.  Hebrews 13:12-14. We are not to offer animal sacrifices, but sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15).

In his book Unimaginable: What Our World Would Be Like Without Christianity, Jeremiah Johnston shares the true story of Dan and Lynn Wagner of Santa Cruz, California.  Their minivan was hit by a drunk and high woman named Lisa who ran a stop sign, killing their two teenage daughters and putting both of them in a coma.  

Their church surrounded them with love, and over time, Dan and Lynn were able to trust God again.  When Lisa was released from prison, they were able to hug her, weep with her, and forgive her.  Lisa became a Christian in prison, and their reconciliation made a deep impression on their parole officer.  In her book Not Wasted, Lynn shares about the transformative power of love!  Do you desire to love like that?