Hebrews 13:1-10

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. ³Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. ⁴ Marriage should be honored 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 forever.

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.

How to Live a Christian Life

This year I am writing this devotion from the city of Chennai in southern India. This is the place where Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, brought the Gospel and also died. It is festival time, people decorate their houses and give gifts to friends and neighbors. It is noisy and amazingly, colorfully decorated.

The topic of our meditation today is about sacrifices that are pleasing to God.

1. We should love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. (v 1)
2. We should show hospitality to all, to strangers and children of God. (v 2)
3. We should visit people who are in the hospital and in prison. (v 3)
4. We should honor marriage. (v 4)
5. We should be content with what we have and not be lovers of money. (v 5)
6. We should remember that our Lord is our helper in all circumstances. (v 6)
7. We should remember to pray for our pastors, leaders and elders. (v 7)
8. We should give thanks that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. (v 8)
9. We should follow God’s Word and not be carried away by the teachings of the world. (v 9)
10. We shouldn’t eat any food offered to idols (v 10). We should take care of our body, as it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

By the time you read this, you will have started 2024 and are probably already busy with the many responsibilities of life. It is important to often make time to reflect on the above 10 points, even though they are not commandments.

Prayer: Thank you for loving us and caring for us every day. Our Heavenly Father, help us to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Not only during the season of Lent, but throughout 2024. Help us to have the mindset of your Son, Jesus Christ given to us by your grace. In your holy and mighty name. I pray. Amen.