13 Let brotherly love continue. 2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.3
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5
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.” 6
So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
The reference to entertaining angels unaware is probably a reference to Abraham and the hospitality he offered to the three men (as we read in Gen. 18), one of whom
was the Lord and the other two were angels. Of course, there is the story of Manoah and his wife, the father and mother of Samson who also entertained angels. (Judg. 13:3). The illustration encourages us to believe that there will be blessing for a Christian
who is a gracious host.
In this context, “brotherly love” is to be extended to “strangers”. We cannot confine our Christian love only to those whom we know well and who are our friends.
Jesus says that even the pagans are kind to those who can repay them.
Brothers and sisters, would you say that our congregation has a reputation for hospitality, for its open homes? It would be easy to say that we do because there are
a number of folks in our midst who are. But the calling is not for a few…but for all of us.
There are no 6 steps to hospitality. In fact, it begins in one’s heart. A desire to be open with possession and places for the refreshment and encouragement of others.
And this, like brotherly love, must continue to grow…And for those of us whose homes are open, never, never take pride in doing for others what the Lord has done for you times ten. Doing our duty and doing it for the Lord’s sake, is not just our calling, it
is in itself our reward.
Here is what Pastor Doug Wilson wrote some time ago: Stop feeling sorry for your kids and grandkids. Why would we raise generations of dragon slayers and be disappointed
that there are dragons for them to fight? Cheer up, it’s more dangerous than you thought.
You see the point? We say we are raising up warriors and then complain and live in fear that our children might have to fight…of course they do! This is another example
where Christians use fine sounding words; Oh that my son would be a servant of the Lord who slays dragons! That sounds noble and picturesque.
But then we train them to be afraid…we train them to care more for safety than bravery, and to fear the consequences of faithfulness…to fear death more than they desire
to serve the Lord.
I am more and more convinced that the current political malaise and overreach over the last 6 years or so has revealed the truth of many hearts. It seems that some
Christians are more afraid of upsetting their family than they are of upsetting the Lord. And perhaps the most alarming is that many are much more afraid of death than they are of being unfaithful to the Lord. That should tell us something. Christians are
just as terrified of death as are non-Christians…something is surely wrong!
Christians love to quote the verse, especially during the Easter season, “Oh death where is thy victory, O death where is thy sting”, but I am not so sure this
is anything but a platitude…we either believe these words…or we don’t.
And I for one was made to wonder why it is that Christians seem to be afraid of life and death and cower to ungodly pressure in the same way that those who do not
have our Savior to flee to seem to be afraid of life and death!
And let me say something to the other side of the coin. There are Christians who are nonconformists at heart…they are not good at submitting themselves to anyone…some
have a rebellious streak that they cover over with bold, spiritual proclamation. They love to stick it to the man…don’t fool yourself if you are using all of the cultural mess and political corruption as a means to both express and cover your own pride and
rebellious heart. Yes we speak out and we speak up…Yes, we must stand and not compromise, but if our words and actions are not draped in compassion, humility and love for our Savior’s name, then it is best we be quiet and find a godly man and woman to follow.
All of you are called to be open in hand and home…to use what you have been given to the honor and glory of God…But that could open me up to being used, to being taken
advantage of, it could be dangerous, you say, to which I must answer, no, it is not that it could be dangerous…it is and will be dangerous. But it is your calling.
Verse 3 refers to a practice in which these Jewish Christians had already excelled, as we read in 10:33-34. No doubt those in prison are, in the first place, Christians
who have been imprisoned on account of their faith. And if our brothers and sisters are suffering for their faith, we are required to stand next to them, to stand with them…no matter what.
So, Christians, let me be more specific; You and I are to give loving attention to others both by bringing folks into our homes and giving refreshment to them. AND
by going out of our homes to meet others where they are and in their need. We don’t extend God’s charity only in that way most convenient to us and our own schedules. The needs of others become our obligations. We are to practice what one commentator calls
an “imaginative sympathy” with those in need. This is the fruit of following Him who has opened His home to us.
Prayer: Father, You have ordered my days and it is my deepest desire
to be faithful with the time that has been set for me. Keep me from sin, both those that come to me and those that come from me. Give me a heart that wants to redeem the time and honor my Savior who has loved me with an everlasting love. I know that I am not
my own, give me a rejoicing spirit this day to the honor and praise of my God and King, in Jesus name, Amen.
Hymn: The Sands of Time