Nov 16 Ezekiel 30, Ezekiel 31 Hebrews 13 Proverbs 27:23-27, Proverbs 28:1-6

Heb 13:4

Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Marriage is important to God. He takes it very seriously. Jesus spoke so seriously about marriage, that when he was done – his disciples said, essentially, “Wow – that’s hard to live by. Maybe not getting married is easier”. That’s how seriously God sees marriage – it’s an unbreakable bond – a holy union.

It’s not something we enter into lightly.

Those who are married – you must honour your marriage. You must. To those who are unmarried – you must also hold marriage in honour and not get in the way of someone’s marriage. You cannot be the reason that someone’s marriage splits up.

Married people – do not flirt with someone you are not married too. But equally, unmarried people, do not flirt with someone who is married.

God will judge. It’s not for us to do that – but we must, as churches and as individuals hold marriage in a high place of honour. All of us.

Heb 13:5-6

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

We all know the passage “I will never leave you or forsake you” – but here in Hebrews it’s placed in an interesting context.

The writer is essentially saying, if Jesus will never leave you or forsake you… what are you so worried about?

Don’t’ worry about money. Easier said than done, I know – but money will bind you up if you let it. Don’t worry about it, because Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.

Don’t worry about what the world will do to you – because Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.

Incidentally, the word forsake means abandon, turn away from, reject, disown. Jesus will never do those things to you.

You are never on your own – and with Jesus in your corner – you are not an underdog, you have the advantage.

You can confidently say today – no matter what comes against you, “The Lord is my Helper!” He’s with you every step of the way, so you can face whatever the world has to throw at you.

Heb 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 

Are we saved by works or grace? Grace – of course. So works….? What does that matter?

Why do we do good? Brownie points? Extra credit?

No, of course not. Here’s a great reason to do good, contained in this passage. It’s pleasing to God. What better thing is there in life than to please God?

If we love Him, we will want to please Him. It stands to reason.

It’s not a question of trying to earn salvation, but a question of pleasing the one you love.

I don’t know about you – I want to live a life pleasing to God – because He is worth it. Therefore today, let’s endeavour to do good. To share what we have. Because, to paraphrase… God likes that.