Listen up, little ones
Listen for the word love.
Reading
Hebrews 13:1-6 — Let Brotherly Love Continue
Optional Reading
Psalm 118:1-9
Keys for kids
- Love each other and strangers.
- Honor marriage.
- Trust God's protective care.
Questions
- What should we love?
- What should we not love?
- How can we hold marriage in honor?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
The author of Hebrews ends with a number of instructions for Christians. He begins with a call to philadelphia and a call to philoxenia. That is, love brothers (philadelphia) and love strangers (philoxenia). Remember that Jesus said people would know that we are His disciples if we love one another (Jn 13:35). So maybe you have someone from church over for Sunday lunch and you invite a church visitor too.
He then addresses caring for those suffering. It is likely that some of these Hebrew Christians were literally being mistreated and put in prison. Care for those suffering as best as you can.
Marriage is to be held in honor. God established this relationship—one man and one woman joined in marriage for life. Brooks notes that in New Testament days, there were some who advocated the single life as being superior to and purer than the married life, some who were unfaithful to their marriage commitment and played fast and loose with its bonds, and some who pursued an immoral lifestyle as they pleased. Not much changes.
Finally in this section there is something that we should not love—money. Don't be philarguros—a money lover. Why not? Because God will take care of you. Always.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 118a, 51d
Prayer
- Pray you will love and not love correctly.
- Pray for the preparation for preaching God's Word this Sunday.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.