EXCEPTIONAL DEVOTION

Hebrews 13:4–6 CSB

Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Main Idea: Believers are to be completely devoted to God’s design.

Key Question: Are you following and trusting God’s design?

1. Be devoted to purify in all relationships. (v. 4)

Hebrews 13:4 CSB

Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

“honored” as in 1 Pet 1:19

1 Peter 1:19 CSB

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

Speak honorably about marriage. It is a good thing!

Ephesians 5 refers to marriage as a symbolic picture to Jesus and the church!

Genesis 2:18–25 CSB

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” The Lord God formed out of the ground every wild animal and every bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found corresponding to him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the Lord God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

Proverbs 18:22 CSB

A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

“undefiled” = without blemish/wholesome in every way (Hebrews 7:26)

Hebrews 7:26 CSB

For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

“sexually immoral” = ‘pornos’ — activity outside of God’s design for sex within marriage

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 CSB

Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

“adulterer” — “one who is unfaithful to a spouse”

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 657.

Exodus 20:14 CSB

Do not commit adultery.

2. Be devoted to contentment in the Lord. (v. 5-6)

Hebrews 13:5–6 CSB

Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

phileo of money - See v. 1

Hebrews 13:1 CSB

Let brotherly love continue.

1 Timothy 6:10 CSB

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Proverbs 28:25 CSB

A greedy person stirs up conflict, but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.

Be content

Philippians 4:10–14 CSB

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

1 Timothy 6:6–8 CSB

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.