Hebrews 13

In this chapter, Christians are being exhorted to demonstrate brotherly love and hospitality toward each other, even toward strangers. It is easy to be nice toward the people you like and have been nice to you, but we need to be willing to show hospitality toward others as well. How do we respond to new people in the church, especially if they do not have the same appearance or speech as you? God shows no partiality, and neither should we. I Samuel 16:7, “...For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” James 2:2-5, “For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”  Although we are not to divide over outward appearances, sin will divide people and hinder their ability to have fellowship. If sin separates a person from God, it is only natural that their relationship with other believers will also be affected. Separating from sinful behavior is not motivated by an evil heart, as showing partiality. The word of God simply divides.

Verse 5, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' ”  It is very hard to live in this world, especially in America, and not be influenced by marketing techniques specifically aimed at making you dissatisfied with what you currently have, in order to get you to want more. I'm amazed at how different children are when they are not exposed to television commercials and school social pressures to want worldly things. It is no different for adults. Facebook and other social media increase covetousness by their very design. They spread the word quickly, which is why it is used to market products and ideas, but they also cause others to covet intangible things about each others' lives by the way they are presented. However, if you are not aware that something exists, you simply will not desire it in your hearts. Remember how Eve saw the fruit and wanted it? If you are not content with what God has provided, then Jesus is clearly not enough for you! We all need to examine our own hearts on this one. 1 John 2:15-16, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

We need to consider and obey those who have spiritual authority over us. Verses 7, 17, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct [...] Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” Those in authority must be an example in faith to those being led by them. They certainly cannot pretend to take the high road on judging so that others will not look at their sin, and neither can we. Paul was able to say in I Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Followers have a God-given responsibility to make sure they are not being stubborn and hard to lead. This causes the leader to experience grief because of your conduct and unwillingness to yield, and you will not profit you one bit from your stubborn disobedience. God establishes authority for the purpose of bringing order and preventing chaos. The military understands this concept quite well. You cannot be victorious in battle when there is no order in completing the mission. When you do reject your leader's instructions or Biblical counsel, you are rejecting God and inviting His judgment.

Part of being under submission means that at times you will receive rebuking, correction, and exhortation according to the word of God. Timothy was charged to, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). Good leaders will shepherd their flock this way, and we need to bear with it and receive it, because it is for our own good. Failure to do so is most likely due to wickedness of heart and pride. Do not kid yourself...you cannot reject your spiritual authority and still be right with God. The same pride will make it impossible for you to submit to God's authority, which makes you illegitimate rather than a child of God. Verse 22, “And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.”  Regardless of what our heart desires, we yield to the truth. Our hearts are desperately wicked after all.

Verse 18, “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.” Can you say that you are confident of having a good or clear conscience before God? Can you say you are living honorably in all things? Timothy was also charged to “...wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck...” (1 Timothy 1:18-19). Faith and a good conscience are weapons for spiritual battles and help us stand against doubt and condemnation. If you reject sound teaching, sound doctrine, and principles of holy living, then you will be heading for shipwreck as well. Most likely you will form your own god to worship, who will allow you to fulfill the desires of your flesh, regardless of whether or not they are unholy. It is very easy to tell who follows the dictates of their own heart, and who obeys the will of God, by their fruit.

As children of God, He expects us to bear fruits of righteousness. That's how we know other believers...good fruit. You cannot bear good fruit when you have not sown to the spirit. Galatians 6:7‭-‬9, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”  Stubborn, lazy, evil-minded servants who do not bear fruit will not prosper long term. Although God is patient, eventually He will have enough.  Romans 11:21-22, “For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, IF you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”  It is time to fully surrender and fall upon the Rock Christ Jesus. Matthew 21:44, “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on it falls, it will grind him to powder.”