Noteworthy Exhortations

Schloss Charlottenburg , Berlin

There are two passages of Scripture that jumped out at me this week, one from the book of Hebrews and one from the book of James.

Hebrews:

This is a great exhortation from the Apostle Paul on showing hospitality, bearing another burdens, staying committed to your marriage partner, and trusting in God’s provision. It’s so easy to get caught up in ourselves- our problems, our worries, our joys. We can even get carried away in our sin that we often forget that we’re not the only ones in the world. The world does not solely revolve around us, so we must be cautious to be selfless and live righteously toward all, for we never know who we are in the presence of:

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:1-5, NIV

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James:

This is a wonderful exhortation from the Apostle James, one of the earthly brothers of Christ and son of the Virgin Mary. I just want to encourage anyone wrestling with their faith, especially if they’re in a season of challenge, beseeching God for something, and it seems that there are no signs that an answer is coming. Rick Warren said something along the lines of “everything in life is test. God is watching to see how we handle every situation,” whether good or bad- whether a temptation or act of selflessness. Are we going to act with righteously or like the evil one would have us?

If you don’t see any traces of God answering your prayer yet, don’t give up on God. An answer is coming and sometimes not in the form you hope. Let the testing of your faith (the waiting) have its good work in you so that you can develop perseverance and therefore you will not lack anything. Don’t lose your faith in God!:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” –James 1: 2-8

Happy Friday xx!