Main Thought
Hebrews 13 begins with a simple command: “Let brotherly love continue.” Everyone agrees that love should continue. Yet love becomes difficult to sustain when our definition of love changes. Our culture increasingly approaches love with a consumeristic mindset. We want the benefits to outweigh the costs. Consumeristic love cares more about what it gets than what it gives. But biblical love is costly by nature. It can cost us our comfort, convenience, preferences, and more. Yet when love becomes too costly, we can be tempted to stop loving and replace it with something easier. Sometimes, that is when love stops.
As Christians, we have received a costly, sacrificial love from Christ. Jesus stepped into our place of reproach and rejection so that we could receive His love. His love changes the way we love others. We can look to Jesus, remember what we have received, and choose to let His love continue through us. This is the kind of love that carried the good news of Jesus across land, sea, air, and time. It is a love that can't be stopped.
Main Passages
'Let brotherly love continue.'
- Hebrews 13:1 ESV
'So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.’
- Hebrews 13:12-16 ESV
'Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. '
- Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
Discussion Questions
Jesus demonstrated costly love by giving His life for us on the cross. What does the way Jesus loved us teach you about the kind of love He wants us to show others?
Have you ever seen consumeristic love on display? Have you ever seen costly, sacrificial love on display? If you’re willing and able, consider sharing an example or story.
Who might God be asking you to love, serve, encourage, or introduce to Jesus? What is one practical step you can take this week?