Aug 01, 2014 Words of Grace – Let Brotherly Love Continue
“Let brotherly love continue.” – Hebrews 13:1
The message this Sunday at Grace will be from Hebrews 13:1-6. Here we are told to let love endure. We are to let love continue to come from our lives in very practical ways. The expressions of love in this passage are hospitality, empathy, fidelity in marriage, and contentment with what we have rather than a dominating love of money.
Underneath these commands are questions for the heart. Why don’t we express love? What is going on in our hearts when we don’t let love continue? What do we have from God that changes our hearts so we can endure in love for others?
Fundamentally, the failure to love is due to the preoccupation with self. Self-lordship leaves little room for love. Why the preoccupation with self? One reason is that we mistakenly believe that no one, not even God, will care and provide for us. So, we must.
Sometimes we are left to care for ourselves without the aid of others. But the Christian is never left without the care and provision of God.
At the end of this passage we hear two promises from God that have the power to dethrone self. One is the promise of God’s presence. He says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The other is the promise of God’s help. “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear.”
The presence and help of the Lord free us from the false notion that we are alone and that we must take care of ourselves. Taking these promises to heart helps free us from being preoccupied with self so we can love others well.
As you prepare for Sunday worship, begin praying for yourself and for others to know the love of God in a way that leads to repentance from self-lordship and toward the practice of love.
– Scott