God has created each person in his image, and each one deserves our respect and hospitality. God’s love and compassion touches every person, regardless of background, place, class, or kindred. As servants of Christ, our service and care are not based on their sense of worthiness, but on God’s image that each person inherently bears. As such, we should treat each one according to their own dignity and worth, showing each one the mercy and love the Father shows to us all.

Our love for other people must be genuine, neither fake nor phony in our display. As the love of God for us in Christ was real, so our love for others must also be authentic and legitimate. Let us love in our actions, tangibly and practically.

Thank you, Father, for the Holy Spirit, who can fill us with his fruit and help us to honestly love others as you did to us in Christ. For his sake, amen.

Finally, believers live out their priestly calling as they love one another, show hospitality and visit those languishing in prison (Heb 13:1-3). They moreover show themselves priests by guarding holiness, seen here in terms of keeping the marriage bed undefiled, abstaining from the love of money and remaining steadfast against false teaching (Heb 13:4-9). The next verses make clear the basis for all such action – namely, the truth that the “altar” Christians have is far greater than that of the old covenant, just as Christ’s blood surpasses that of animals (Heb 13:10-12). Since the sacrifice of Jesus is greater and lasting, the church is encouraged to offer through Christ, instead of blood sacrifices, the “sacrifice of praise” and the sacrifices of kindness and generosity to others (Heb 13:15-16). The phrase “the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (13:15) is drawn from Hosea and refers to worship, preaching and witness. Priestly service thus extends to every domain of life.

~ Uche Anizor and Hank Voss, Representing Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016. pp. 52-53.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
The Everlasting Dominion to Come, Daniel 7.1-18

Book Reading
Anizor and Voss, Representing Christ

Our Corporate Disciplines
Solitude and Silence: Tuesday, November 8, 2022