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Sacrifices Pleasing to God
Hebrews 13
In church, I many times have heard that the phrase “a sacrifice to the
Lord” and you probably have to. But what are sacrifices that are pleasing to
God? While taking time in the Word, I ran across Hebrews 13 and the Lord
answered that question which has long been in the back of my mind. Below are
specific sacrifices that we can make that please God. Our Christian life is
meant to be one of pleasing God not
ourselves or even others.
·
Let brotherly love continue Heb
13:1 (ESV)
·
Do not neglect to show hospitality
to strangers Heb 13:2 (ESV)
·
Remember those who are in prison, as
though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in
the body Heb 13:3 (ESV)
·
Let marriage be held in honor among
all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually
immoral and adulterous Heb 13:4
(ESV)
·
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.” Heb 13:5 (ESV)
·
Remember your leaders, those who
spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and
imitate their faith Heb 13:7 (ESV)
·
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings,
for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace Heb 13:8-9 (ESV)
·
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. Heb 13:11-13 (ESV)
·
here we have no lasting city, but we
seek the city that is to come Heb
13:14 (ESV)
·
Through Him [Jesus] then let us
continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God Heb 13:15 (ESV)
·
Do not neglect to do good and to share
what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Heb 13:16 (ESV)
·
Obey your leaders and submit to
them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to
give an account Heb 13:17 (ESV)
·
Pray for us, for we are sure that we
have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. Heb 13:18 (ESV)
So in recap to ingrain them in us, these are the sacrifices pleasing to
God: love the church (brotherly love) continually, show hospitality to
strangers, remember those in prison as if you were in prison and those who are
mistreated since you are also in an earthly body, hold the gift of sexuality
given by God in the marriage bed in honor and keep it undefiled, keep your life
free from the love of money, remember
your leaders who spoke the Word of God to you and consider their lives and
imitate their faith, Jesus Christ is always the same so do not be led astray by
the many and strange teachings out there but be strengthened in your heart by
God’s grace, Jesus suffered as the sacrifice that the priests of old offered
outside the camp so let us go outside the camp with Jesus and bear the reproach
he endured, seek the city that is to come—the New Jerusalem—Heaven, through
Christ offer up continually sacrifices of praise to God, do not neglect to do
good to share what you have for it pleases God, obey your leaders and submit to
them, pray for those who write this to you that we may act honorably in all
things as we desire.
Take some time to contemplate and read Hebrews
13 slowly. If you have a Family Devotions time or Devotions with your spouse,
bring up the passage then. Please spend some time considering this passage, don’t just move on to the next
thing. May the Word of God transform your life and renew your mind as you do
so.
