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Whatever
the reason, God wants us to know that we can do more. Here is His
first encouragement.
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Do
not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have
unwittingly entertained angels. (NKJV) Heb. 13:2 |
The
Greek word for “entertain” or “hospitality” in
Heb. 13:2 is a combination of two words “love” and “stranger.”
Together it means “love of strangers.” It does not mean
only to entertain strangers by inviting them to your home or to a
restaurant. The word includes more - not less. It does not refer to
just social times. In ancient times it sometimes referred to “bed
and breakfast.” Is that going “the extra mile?“ Some
have taught that the verse does not apply today, reasoning that since
hotels, motels and inns did not exist in Jesus’ day, people today
do not need to accommodate strangers. But a study of the Bible will
reveal that inns did exist in Jesus’ day. Joseph and Mary looked
for a place to stay in an inn (Luke 2:7) but had to settle for a manger.
Even the Good Samaritan left a man at an inn to be cared for (Luke
10:34). This passage does apply to us today. God calls us to go out
of our way not just for our Christians friends but also for strangers
- Christians or not.
Others
To Love. God
calls us to love prisoners too!
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Remember
the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since
you yourselves are in the body also. (NKJV) Heb. 13:3 |
Have you ever been in prison and been chained to someone? Have you
suffered torture with them day after day? That is the picture in the
Greek. God calls us to constantly remember those who are in prison
as if we are in prison with them and suffering with them. If we were
in prison we would not be able to forget. Each day would be a constant
reminder of our situation. Each day we would be talking with and seeing
those who were in prison with us. That is the picture. We need to
be constantly remembering prisoners.
That
is the second group of folks we are called to love. Do you seek to
include others - prisoners and strangers - into your group of Christian
friends? That is God’s call.
Love
Someone Near.
In the ancient world sexual activity outside of marriage was common.
Pagan religious worship such as that practiced in the Roman and Greek
temples encouraged prostitution and adultery, believing or claiming
it brought them closer to their deity. But God calls Christians to
a different standard.
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Marriage
is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators
and adulterers God will judge. (NKJV) Heb. 13:4 |
He
calls us to honor our spouses sexually by being sexually faithful!
Put negatively, He calls us to not be “fornicators” nor
“adulterers.” The Greek word for “fornicators”
is PORNEIA. It refers to all kinds of sexual activity that does not
involve one's spouse; bestiality, homosexuality, lesbianism, and prostitution.
That includes all forms of sexual unfaithfulness. That was how the
word was used in ancient times. God calls Christians to purity before
marriage and within marriage.
Do
Not Love. How
are you doing so far? Have you scored one hundred percent? If so,
the next one will get most everyone, since God calls us to avoid being
preoccupied with what we do not have.
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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.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD
is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
(NKJV) Heb. 13:5-6 |
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