Six Keys to Christian Living
Read the Text: Hebrews 13
Memorize the Text:
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2, CSB)
Consider the Text: Hebrews 13:1-6
The Christian life needs to look different than a life influenced by the world. The parameters to live the Christian life well come from the Lord through His revealed Word. The author of Hebrews closed his letter by including several keys to living the Christian life well. The first six verses of chapter 13 provide six keys for the Christian life.
KEY 1 – LOVE ONE ANOTHER
The author of Hebrews charged believers to "let brotherly love continue." (vs. 1). Brotherly love flows from obedience to the great commandment of loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength along with loving your neighbor as yourself. Further, Jesus noted in John 13:35 that love for others demonstrates one's place as a follower of Christ. Thus, we must seek to live separate from the world's ways and show authentic, genuine love for others.
KEY 2 – SHOW HOSPITALITY
The writer of Hebrews continued to provide keys for believers by calling them to hospitality. In today's culture, hospitality often means being nice to others in some sense of service. However, in the original context, hospitality extended to a greater level than today's understanding. Originally, the idea of hospitality meant that one welcomed a total stranger into their home and served them as an honored guest for as long as they would stay. Thus, the believer lives in such a way that hospitality extends to everyone, and this type of life demonstrates a life living differently from the world.
KEY 3 – SUPPORT THE BODY OF CHRIST
The author continued encouraging believers to live for Christ by supporting members of the Body of Christ. The idea surrounding supporting the body means we should extend compassion and comfort to those who endure hardship. The support comes when we see to serve as intercessors for others in prayer and attempt to journey with them through the highs and lows of life. The support in the body means functioning in unity and as a family living out genuine love.
KEY 4 – HONOR THE PURITY OF MARRIAGE
The Christian marriage should look different than a marriage defined by the world—the basis of such a marriage centers around purity based on the foundation of Christ. The Lord honors marriage because he instituted marriage as the union between one man and woman. When believers seek to live for the Lord in their marriage, they model the love of Christ and demonstrate how unity and love continue to exist even through the most difficult of moments and times. This occurs because Christ remains at the foundation and center of all.
KEY 5 – FIND CONTENTMENT IN THE LORD
The world tempts believers to chase after material treasure and desire more. The author of Hebrews challenges believers to discover the ability to live content in the Lord. The concept of contentment means that the believer lives in the promises of the Lord and trusts in Him completely does not mean that believers cannot have certain items, but that the believer's focus ought to be on the Lord. The mindset of content meant goes against the “want” mentality and rests in the Lord.
KEY 6 – PROFESS CHRIST IN CONFIDENCE
The last key for the believer is the ability to profess Jesus with confidence and boldness. We stand firmly in faith because of our trust in the Lord. As we experience the presence and work of the Lord in life, we find avenues to declare His great faithfulness and work in our life in order to share His goodness with the world. When we profess Christ in confidence, we boldly claim the message of hope and share how that hope dynamically alters life now and later.
So how are you growing in these six keys to the Christian life? It is my hope and prayer that you are growing in the ability to live each of them out and are maturing in them. May we seek to love like Jesus, extend hospitality, support one another, demonstrate Christian marriage, find contentment in the Lord, and declare the Lord in confidence.
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
