Today’s blog post is a by-product of my study of Hebrews 13:1-17. The following findings are not an exhaustive listing but some personal selective spiritual traits I observed and listed for you to consider. Grace and Peace
God’s Mercy
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasure-living in malice, and envy, being hated and hating others.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us…, Titus 3:4
The Body of Christ is commanded to feel for, comfort, and support each other. We are constantly reminded that whosoever profess to love God should love their fellow Brothers and Sister likewise.
We can love others because He first loved us and this is God’s will so that the world will recognize you as My disciples. John 13:35
Spirit of Hospitality
The Spirit of hospitality is the art of making people want to stay without interfering with their departure.
Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, and said, “my Lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant“…, Genesis 19:2
The Beloved of God is to use Godly wisdom and spiritual discernment to not forget to practice hospitality to those who cross our path in our journey. As was the custom in antiquity, public inns or houses were scarce of entertainment for travelers. To offer hospitality to a stranger was considered an office of charity and mercy!
One Body, but Many Parts
There is one Body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one Body. It is the same with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
The Body of Christ is to forever be mindful of those faithful followers of the Master who are suffering for their public witness and testimony of Christ. Those who are imprisoned or killed for Christ-sake are to be honored for their sacrifice.
We are to feel and pray for them and their families as you and I would wish others to feel for us if we too are placed in their circumstances, knowing that, being in the Body, you and I are liable to the same evils, and may be called to suffer in the same way for Christ.
Desire nothing more than What God has Given
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,…, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. Exodus 20:17
The Master communicated in the Sermon on the Mount and throughout His teachings that the Kingdom of Heaven’s spiritual laws involves more than just our actions. Being obedient to the precepts of the Kingdom involves our thoughts, attitudes, and motives.
Much like coveting, all of our sins are deeply seeded within our hearts! Matthew 15:18-20. The Beloved of God is to perfect the disciplines of contentment and satisfaction with the present things within their lives while abstaining from seeking insatiable desires in this world.
Children of God are Never Alone
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:5
These very promises that Joshua and others were granted by God are likewise, our to possess while we practice spiritual integrity before the Lord.
The Body of Christ today can boldly proclaim that our Savior is our ever-present helper in all of our circumstances. None of the faithful righteous of God should succumb to any source of fear. Our spirits are the possession of Christ and are sanctified presently while becoming glorified in the future.
The Master’s parting words are our blessed assurance that He is always with us even to the end of this generation. Matthew 28:20
Christ is the Heavenly Gift of God’s Love in the Earth
By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name. Hebrews 13:15
The Lordship of the Lord within our hearts and in all of the creation demands that we who are spiritually alive, offer Him the sacrifice of praise. He alone has faithfully fulfilled all of the required prophecies which authenticates Jesus from Nazareth as the anointed Messiah from Heaven.
Namely His bloody sacrifice as God’s Lamb was pleasing and accepted by God’s holy standards for the redemption of sinners. Now that Christ lives forevermore, all pervious sacrifices cease except for the continuous sacrifice of praise of the heavenly host, Revelation 4:8, and the redeemed on the earth.
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:8
We who are alive are to do good while communicating to the world, God’s goodness that is in the reflective image of Christ as our heavenly gift. In faithful prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to God, we are encouraged to commit random acts of kindness to those who are in need.
These and other traits are the transformational spiritual sacrifices that every genuine follower of the Master is to offer as their living testimony. These are observable proofs that a regenerative man or woman truly belongs and is forever yoked to Christ as His servant for all eternity. Amen
Grace and Peace
Brother Alonzo