Keep on loving one another

Keep on Loving one another

Hebrews 13 Prayer encouragements

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Hebrews 13:1 NIV

A man once said, “to love the world to me is no chore, my big problem is the guy next door.”  Who does the writer of Hebrews thinks needs to “keep on” being the recipient of love?  Who were and are the “one anothers”? How would loving others as brothers and sisters be different than the way you would already treat them?

Chapter 13 of Hebrews is the closing remarks of a letter.  The writer, some think is Paul and others do not, I will address throughout as Paul just to make the rest of this blog more personal.  Paul is finishing his letter with the “oh yea, and one more thing before I run out of parchment.”  His exhortations have just a little bit of context, but he wants his reader to be reminded of their importance.  Loving others is the first and most important – “Oh, yea.”

Paul says first that they are to “keep on”.  They were already loving others and they needed to keep on loving them.  Love is an intentional action not first a reactive response. The response starts with thankfulness and gratitude toward someone else’s expression of love.  A man buys flowers and chocolates and gives (expressing love) them to his wife. She responds out of sheer joy of being the person that he wanted to show his love to, that she hugs and thanks him.  True she is then expressing her gratitude back in a loving way.  But love is first an action.

So, who are the people that God wants you to be intentional in expressing loving actions.  To be sure if you first answer was NOT in your family, there is a problem.  Every day, ask the Lord how you can be intentional in expressing to your spouse that you love them.  Our heart follows that which we love.  Expressing love to our spouse keeps them on the top burner of our heart.  To keep on pursuing your spouse throughout your marriage, is the extra spice that others are missing. 

Your children also need intentional acts of love.  They need to hear those words come from your mouth, I love you.  Sometimes it can be a reminder in a letter…old school…or text.  It is easy to overlook those close to you because you are in the rhythm of life together.  Study your children so that you know the best ways to communicate to them how much you love them, believe in them, are proud of them, and thankful for them.

Paul probably primarily had in mind, loving fellow believers.  Here is the rub.  There are some people at church that we just don’t get along with.  They are some that annoy us and some we just avoid conversation.  Some are outside our circle of friends and money.  We just happen to occupy the same building space.  Paul wants you to love all people, especially these. 

Remember love is an action not a feeling.  So ,you can take steps to love people that you don’t really feel that close to.  Invite them out to coffee.  Go to lunch after church.  Write them an encouraging note. Ask God to help you “keep on” loving them.  Who do you know that does love like this in your church?  How many people are loving one another as brother and sisters?  Keep remembering that “new comers” are looking to be loved like this also.  Open your love circle to include those who are guest or new to the faith.

Father, it is so easy to read the scriptures and understand the commands and then think that we are already obeying them.  We hear that we should love one another and think that we are getting a passing grade on that subject, so we are good.  Forgive us.  There are not many churches that are accused of being “too loving.”  Help us to be intentional in our expressions of love.  We recognize that we are too consumed with our own selves and thoughts to think of the needs of others first.  But we can change.  Your Spirit can help us to be good “lovers”. Give us the creativity to express our intentional love for those who are in our sphere of influence.  For God so loved us that He sent (intentional action) His son Jesus.  We want to be like you.  In Jesus Name, Amen