Saturday 07 February 2009
- Bible Book:
- Hebrews
"Let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God ... Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (v.15, 20-21)
Background
As the letter to the Hebrews comes to an end, it is possible tosense the writer's urgent desire to put down a string of matters hewants to raise and emphasise. So, in verse 15, he stressesremembering to give God genuine praise - something that comes fromwithin you ("the fruit of lips"). The verses immediately prior totoday's passage concern the offering of sacrifices. It is madeclear that such activity is secondary to worship, which comes fromone's very heart and being. Put that another way, and it seems thesuggestion is that effective praise follows when we really want toworship. We can't do anything else. It flows out and we almostcan't stop it.
Next, recipients are exhorted to do good and share what they have.In verse 16 is an illustration of how often it is in the simplestof ways that we can make a difference in the world around us. Thisparticular challenge is one that is regularly repeated throughoutthe pages of Scripture. An early example comes in
In verse 17, leaders receive a mention for the second time in thischapter and later, at verse 24 a third reference. The challenge toreaders is 'Don't make their leadership task more difficult than itneeds to be'. These words will undoubtedly strike a chord withpeople in leadership positions in the life of the Church today.They also serve as a reminder that the Church is made up of humanbeings - its members are as fallible as those in any other humaninstitution.
After this appeal comes a personal note - "pray for us". Theletters of the New Testament often include such personal notes.After all, they came into existence as letters in the first place.It can only be speculation as to who the author was, from where theletter was written and what caused the leader's delay in returningto be among them.
Last of all, in verses 20 and 21 are words from what was possibly acommon prayer used in the early Church which are offered as a wordof blessing.
To Ponder
How important is praise in your daily life? Canyou think of examples?
In your local church how might the leaders behelped to better lead the members?
If you were writing to a church you knew, whatpersonal note might you include?