I am struck with the plea in this section to give my leaders “reason to (serve and watch over me) with joy and not with sorrow. I sadly think that too often we find the one thing we don’t like at church or in a sermon and dwell on that, instead of celebrating all the things we do like and value. I know that many pastors face burn-out, personal trauma, and depression due to the ingratitude of the people they endeavor to serve. My friends, this should not be so! Oh, I want to do a better job of thanking my own dear pastors and honoring them as they labor over sermons and counseling and administering and … the list goes on and on. Theirs is a job that can be 24/7 if they don’t guard their time. People get sick at inconvenient times. Crises can occur in the middle of a pastor celebrating a child’s birthday. We have got to be cognizant of the fact that pastors are people, too! And their wives and children should be tended well by them.
The other part of this last section that blessed me is the glorious prayer of blessing in verses 20-21. This has been a hard letter to write. The author (I really do think it was Paul. Notice how he’s chatting about Timothy and such in verse 23.) has had to kind of shake some sense into the Jewish Christians that were going back to old ways instead of moving on with Jesus who had so much to teach them in the ways of holiness. Yet, despite the arguments he presents and the sternness of his language at times, it’s obvious this letter was written out of love and concern. Let’s end our study by praying this glorious blessing over each other. I’ve loved studying with you. It’s such a joy to come to the Lord and ask Him to help us understand and digest His Word. Thanks for doing this with me!
Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
My verse: Hebrews 13:16, “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. Those are the sacrifices that please God.”
My response: And they are sacrifices. When we do good to another, or give to them, we are laying down our own agendas, our own time and our own resources for someone else. Father, help me not to be self-absorbed. Show me the needs of others that You want me to meet. Give me a heart willing to sacrifice my own agenda for another when You ask it of me.
