Showing Our Love For God

Hebrews 13:1-7

Most of our study of Hebrews has focused on what God has done for us. Chapter 12 finished up with the concept of showing appreciation for what God has done. Chapter 13 will be devoted to some specific and practical things we can do to demonstrate our love for him and our appreciation for his actions on our behalf.

In John 14:15, Jesus said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John said that is what loving God is in I John 5:3. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” It not only demonstrated our love, it is the very essence of loving God. Back in John 14, Jesus goes even further. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” (John 14:23-24).

Literally, a person who doesn’t keep God’s commands doesn’t love him, and doesn’t appreciate Christ’s sacrifice of himself. As Jesus says, that is God’s statement about it. We are simply lying to ourselves when we say we love him and don’t obey him.

Jesus gave a new commandment, which I John 2 says is not really a new commandment, but just a restating of the originals. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,” (John 13:34-35). This commandment is especially important as it is the evidence of our faith to others. The author Gives specific guidelines on how to show this love towards others.

“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body,” (Hebrews 13:1-3). We are to love others just as we love our own family. This means sometimes we need to reach out to complete strangers as well. Sometimes the result is surprising. While there are some guidelines, by doing for strangers, we do it for Christ according to Matthew 25:31-46. We are not to forget fellow Christians who are having trouble, but to encourage and assist them when we can. They are part of our family.

A vital area in loving others is that of maintaining a pure relationship. Promiscuous sex exposes people to much emotional pain, as well as physical problems. Love is more concerned with not hurting the other than with pleasing oneself. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge,” (Hebrews 13:4). I Corinthians 6:13-20 warns of the effects of promiscuous sex on the person physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (I Corinthians 6:13-20)

Unlike food, which our body requires for life, sex is optional. It is not necessary to have for a contented or happy life. It is to be used in the marriage setting only. Use outside is disobedience to God and shows that the participant doesn’t care either about God, or the other person. It brings both under the judgment and chastisement of God.

Love for others will prevent our wanting to get what they have, causing us to rejoice that they have it. Faith in God and his love will help to trust him to supply what is needed. As the author puts it, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

A final area of demonstrating our love for Christ by loving others is in love for our leaders and teachers. “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation,” (Hebrews 13:7). It is easy to resent leaders, or to forget they are human and have the same needs and desires as everyone else. Qualified spiritual leaders should be an example for people to follow in every area of their life. Examining the results of their faith and life style should be considered before following too far. As Paul told Timothy, their qualifications should be demonstrated before they are given positions even as a deacon.