Move beyond the empty, wasted life most settle for. The God of peace offers to give you 'everything good!'
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Hebrews 13 Summary
Look at the kinds of encouragements you are given in Hebrews 13; each command has a long term, ongoing aspect to it:
Keep on loving (v1)
Do not forget to show hospitality (v2)
Continue to remember (v3)
Keep your lives free (v5)
Remember your leaders (v7)
Do not be carried away (v9)
Continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise (v15)
Do not forget to do good (v16)
Have confidence (v17)
Pray for us (v18)
Dig Deeper
As important and valuable as these practical instructions are, this chapter is best known for the beautiful benediction that comes in v20-21:
Now may the God of peace...
What an amazing way to describe the sovereign ruler of the universe: the God of peace! Although God would be perfectly just to identify as the God of wrath (don't forget that He's also referred to as a consuming fire yesterday in 12:29), God reveals Himself to you in peace, because you are represented to Him in the perfect righteousness of Christ.
who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant...
God, who is always faithful to His covenant, showed His acceptance of our Savior's atonement for our sin by giving Jesus new life. Therefore, Jesus our Lord will always be your shepherd, and you shall not want.
[May He] equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight...
Your life does not need to be a continual train wreck of failure. You've been equipped with everything good! Notice there is a caveat, though. You're equipped to do His will, the things that please Him, which requires that you align your will with His.
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
This is why we often use the phrase Soli Deo Gloria in Reformed circles, because all glory is due to God alone!
AAA Prayer:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The God of peace
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will want what God wants so that He will be at work through you
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
