Hebrews 13:15-21
“15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17Have 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.
18Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.
20Now 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, 21equip 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.”
The book of Hebrews presents a multifaceted defense of Jesus Christ as our Savior by comparing and contrasting Him with the Old Testament sacrificial system, scriptures, and key figures. It emphasizes that our response to Jesus must be one of faith, a faith that endures through the trials of the last days as well as through the challenges of daily life. This faith arises from the assurance of Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Hebrews explains Jesus' role in our salvation by referencing Old Testament promises and sacrifices, teaching that offering a continual sacrifice of praise to God is crucial. Through Jesus, we are able to offer this sacrifice of praise, as He is the ultimate reason for our worship. The marvelous promises and grace of God, fulfilled in Jesus, show that the complete salvation and divine presence long awaited by the faithful of the Old Testament are now experienced in our lives.
Therefore, our current lives as the redeemed people of God are lives lived within His blessings, enabling us to always offer the sacrifice of praise. Our praise serves as a testimony to the Lord, manifesting Him in our lives. Hebrews 13:16 says, "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased," highlighting that worshiping God should be expressed through doing good and sharing with others. The work of new creation is God's process of making us new creatures, and we contribute to this work by performing good deeds and sharing with others in this world.
Because we believe that Jesus will return to renew the world, we can actively and positively engage in doing good works in the present. This faith empowers us to do good and to share with others. This is how we fulfill God's cultural mandate and continue the process of becoming new creations in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, guide us to live lives of praise, always remembering Your grace. Help us to remember Jesus' sacrificial love and the hope of His resurrection, and let that remembrance inspire our praise today. May our words reveal life, bring joy, and offer encouragement. Give us the courage to do good and to share our lives with others in joy and boldness, empowered by the grace You have given us. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
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