The Practical Expression of Love

THE PRACTICAL EXPRESSION OF LOVE Spring Valley Mennonite; May 31, 2020; Hebrews 13:1-6; 6:10 In our journey through the Book of Hebrews, the last three chapters (11, 12, and 13) have come out of an exhortation in chapter 10, verses 19-25. We'll begin with reading those verses, for they are the "hinge verses" introducing the practical section of the letter. (Read 10:19-25.) There is a vital principle demonstrated here: the practice of the Christian life has its foundation in true doctrine. Notice how this is clearly stated in these verses: verse 19: SINCE; verse 21: SINCE. Since it is foundationally true that the blood of Jesus paid for our sins and we have the confidence to come to God, and since Jesus is our High Priest-THEN let us draw near in full assurance of FAITH; let us hold fast our hope; and let us love one another. Faith, Chapter 11; Hope, chapter 12, and now Love in chapter 13. But these practical expressions in our lives fully depend on the doctrine of Jesus Christ as fulfilling the Old Covenant and instituting the New Covenant of Grace. Christian living rests on the foundation of true doctrine. Every cult begins with departure from the fundamental doctrines, usually the doctrine of Christology. So, chapter 13 speaks of the practical expression of love, primarily toward other believers, but with profound effects on a watching world. Christian love is profoundly COUNTER-cultural. There are five areas in which we see the expression of Christian love in these verses; the first is seen in verse 1 of chapter 12: (Read verse 1: "Let the love of the brethren continue.") I. CONTINUE LOVING ONE ANOTHER I considered entitling this sermon "Loving in Tough Times." There can be a tendency in times of crisis to "circle the wagons" and respond with a fortress mentality. We "close ourselves off from others." We are just now coming out of such a time now when a fortress mentality was mandated nation-wide. We were supposed to "shelter in place" and avoid contact with other people who might spread the virus. We still are encouraged to remain at home to protect ourselves. But we must ask, "At what price?" I do not question the wisdom of stemming the spread of disease, but we have seen how a fortress mentality seriously affects the practical expression of love toward others. Perhaps this is a function of our selfish sin nature. Our natural (understand sinful) tendency is to look out for ourselves first. God's love expressed through us is super-natural, something we are incapable of without God's enablement. Not that unselfish living is unknown in the world, but that is a function of "common grace", God mercifully expressing His love to an undeserving and sinful world through sinful people. We see this in the sacrificial efforts of doctors, nurses, EMT workers, and many others during this Corona Virus pandemic. For we believers our love should leap all boundaries. For the first-century Hebrew believers, they were challenged within the infant church to love gentiles in the same manner as Jews. Remembering the Day of Pentecost and the amazing diversity of people in Jerusalem, people from all the different countries and people groups became believers. One of the first controversies in the young church arose because of differences in the treatment of Hebrew and Greek widows. Sincere Jews before Pentecost had strongly resisted Greek influence; this was the core issue motivating the Maccabean revolt years earlier. Now Jews and Greeks were worshipping and serving the Lord Jesus together, but old prejudices die hard. The believers to which Hebrews was addressed had already shown such sacrificial love, as noted in chapter 6, verse 10: "For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints." Whether persecution was causing stress in the church and causing the "fortress mentality response" they are exhorted to "continue" in those earlier expressed actions of love. If you have had the privilege of traveling outside our country and or have met other believers from another culture, you have seen how we are united in the love of Christ, a fellowship we have in the family of God that is closer than we have with American non-believers. Our love of others should not be affected by our circumstances, and truly, the tougher the circumstances, the more opportunities and the more need there is for unselfish love. We are to abound-grow, increase, expand our expressions of love. It doesn't come without effort. The second way practical love is to be shown is in: II. SHOWING HOSPITALITY TO STRANGERS We have a somewhat different view of hospitality than the Biblical sense. We tend to classify any time we open our home to others, family or friends, we are showing hospitality. The Greek word for hospitality (philoexenios) is formed from a word for love (philo-think Philadelphia or philanthropy) and (Xenios-stranger). Biblical hospitality is entertaining those we don't know! Travel in the early days of the church was problematic if you needed to find a place to stay the night. Inns could be very dangerous, or at best, places where immorality and sin flourished. For some inns, to spend the night was to place your life in danger. A Christian who was traveling was expected to be received by the Christian community. If you were traveling from place to place you did not need to worry about finding food or lodging as the practice was to invite strangers into your home. This was Biblical hospitality. The illustration in this verse is that some have entertained angels, like Abraham and Lot. Hospitality should be one of the marks of our Christian living. A third way love is to be shown is: III. THE MATTER OF SYMPATHY Verse 3: "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." Jesus said, in Matthew 25:36, "I was in prison and you came to me." As those listening knew Jesus himself had never been in prison, they were confused, until Jesus clarified it in speaking of the condemning words of the coming Messiah, "Then He will answer them saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'" There were those of the early church who were put in prison simply because they were followers of the Lord Jesus. This happened to Paul, as well as many others. Most prisons of the first century did not provide meals for their prisoners. Friends and family were responsible for bring food and necessities for prisoners. The writer is reminding the people to remember the prisoners. We have been aware of the organization "Voice of the Martyrs" for many years. It was founded by Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor who was imprisoned and tortured for 14 years in Communist prisons. He was imprisoned simply for the "crime" of believing in Christ and openly witnessing to that belief. Wurmbrand is now in heaven, reaping the rewards for the scars he earned in prison. He persisted in preaching even while in prison, for which he was beaten. He remarked, "They enjoyed beating me and I enjoyed preaching, so everyone was happy!" Persecution continues today throughout the world for those who are believers. Many find themselves in prison, and we are told that true love remembers them and provides for their needs. We may not be able to visit them, but we can donate money to organizations which support them and their families. They are part of the body of Christ. If I have a headache, my foot doesn't say, "I am fine, I am not hurting. My hands do not say, I feel no pain. If I have a headache my whole body suffers. An injury can keep my whole body awake at night. So it is to be for the body of the church. We are to be sympathetic to those in the body who suffer, be it as prisoners of the faith, or others who suffer any type of pain, physical or otherwise. The fourth way love is to be shown is in: IV. THE AREA OF PURITY Read verse 4. One of the applications we can draw from this whole passage is that a watching world will observe the differences Jesus makes in our lives and will be curious about our lifestyle. There will be those who will ask us about why we do or don't do certain things. We should be ready, as 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you..." The Christian's view toward purity before and in marriage is one area that shows up like a beacon in our sexually charged and sin-darkened culture. The culture of the first century was exceedingly immoral, much like our own. Fornication, (sex before marriage), and adultery-(sex with someone other than one's spouse) was not only common, but almost expected behavior. God's standard has always been "No sex outside of marriage." For these believers, that standard was being reemphasized. Marriage was to be held in honor among all. The union of one man and one woman for life is God's standard and has been since creation. How we today need to hear this! Today marriage is trivialized and seen in many eyes as outdated, especially the idea that a marriage is to be a life-long commitment. We learn from Ephesians 5 that marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Is that relationship trivial or temporary? Absolutely not! The marriage bond is to be pure and undefiled. This says that there is to be absolutely no premarital or extra-marital sexual activity. Why? For the same reason God ever tells us not to do something: God says "No" to protect and provide for us. To protect and provide are the two positive benefits of every negative command in scripture. I love the way the late Adrian Rogers put it about God's prohibitions: "It's like God is saying, 'Don't build a fire on your living room floor!" Pre-marital or extra-marital sex damages a person emotionally, physically, psychologically and most importantly, spiritually. And, as another person is involved, they are also negatively affected. There is a reason the enemy of our souls works so hard to bring personal and cultural ruin through advocating sexual promiscuity; it is one of His most effective strategies. 1 Peter 5:8: "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." There are severe consequences for these sins. Love for God, others and self is seen in maintaining sexual purity. The final way our passage emphasizes love is shown is in: V. THE AREA OF CONTENTMENT Read vv. 5-6. What is your vision of contentment? What are the characteristics of a person who is content? These verses link contentment with our attitude toward money or what money can buy. I have often thought that I could determine the level of someone's dedication to God by examining their checkbook or credit card bills. Is generosity evident by the record of their spending or savings? Jesus spoke much about money, as in Matthew 6 where we are told to lay up our treasures in heaven, not on the earth, "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Later, in Matthew 19, in speaking to the rich young ruler, Jesus identified one kind of "treasure in heaven" as giving to the poor. Money is not the root of all evil, but rather the LOVE OF MONEY! Our character, our way of life, our lifestyle should not be like those who devote all their energy to accumulating wealth or material goods. Living in our culture where a person is judged by the amount of "stuff" we have creates a great challenge. We are constantly bombarded with the idea that "new is better" and that we need to constantly be updating to be considered an admirable and valuable person. Who wants to be considered "old fashioned" or outdates? This is another of Satan's schemes to detract us from what is truly important, for to keep up with the latest whatever means we spend all our time working. My sister's late husband worked two jobs most of his life; he would work all night at his main job and get off work in the morning and go to his day job. His goal was to accumulate enough money to retire and travel and enjoy the "good life." Within months of his projected retirement date, he contracted cancer and died, regretting his foolishness. Contentment is being satisfied and enjoying what God has given us at any point in time, realizing God has provided and will provide for what we need. Contentment comes at the point where our wants and needs are equal. And contentment will show up in its fruit which is generosity. There is little generosity among those who are discontented. God has given us an incredible promise related to generosity in Luke 6:38: "Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Blessings are promised to those who are generous. Contentment has its basis in our relationship with the Lord Jesus. We are to live without fear, for He is with us and will never desert or forsake us, as verse 6 states. Whatever comes into our lives, God has allowed it and will give us strength to endure and thrive. He is our Helper, the One who comes to rescue us. Therefore, we can live with boldly and with confidence, fearlessly trusting in the Lord. 2