Hebrews 13

This devotional is written by Sirine Hammami.

Concluding exhortations
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.

4 Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

‘Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.’

6 So we say with confidence,

‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?’

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honourably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

Benediction and final greetings
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.

25 Grace be with you all.

Thank you Jesus that your promises are yes and amen. Thank you Father that you are always with us, you never leave us or forsaken us. So I pray God for child faith - where our hearts have been hardened by life, disappointments, hardship, I pray that by your Spirit, the truth of your words - promises will set us free. Thank you God that we can pray “I believe help my unbelief”.

Thank you God that you are our helper, and we don’t have to be afraid. I pray for your perfect love to cast out any fears, thank you that there is no fear in your love. Help us to receive your love wholeheartedly, in every crack. Thank you God that you don’t give your heart in pieces but you give it wholeheartedly, unrestrainedly, generously, you don’t withdraw yourself but you give your whole self to us.

Thank you Jesus that you are the same yesterday, today and forever. You are always faithful, your love is relentless toward us and the world. You are always there to save and redeem. You are light in the darkness. You are our Prince of peace, our wonderful counsellor. You are the keeper of our heart, our redeemer, our healer, our defender. By your wounds we are healed. You are our high priest seated at the right hand of our Father - interceding for us. I pray for a deeper revelation of your cross and resurrection so that we could see you face to face - with no hindrance. Thank you that you made a way for us to come close - you rolled away any stones that were in the way.

I pray for our hearts to be strengthened and transformed by your grace and our whole life would be a response to your grace toward us and the world. Our whole life will be a sacrifice of praise as a response to your unconditional love for us.