My Duties

Study: #750 – Church in the Houses From: November 24, - December 3, 2012 TOPIC: “My Duties” Hebrews 13:1-6

The following are graces or virtues that should be developed in us. Remember that there are rules to follow and obey to know if we truly have grown. The FIRST is THE LOVE OF THE BROTHERS. There should be the feeling of the family relationship. In so many occasions the family of faith is more than the family of flesh. That is cultivated. It should be in good days as well as in the bad days. It is like a bond, like the one made in a matrimonial commitment; in health, as in illness, in abundance as in scarcity, in all, united. John 3:18 "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." How well John knew those who surrounded him. It is not what the tongue says, that “I love you”. It is beyond great actions. It is the demonstration, that devotion, to reach that other person’s heart. The SECOND is to show HOSPITALITY TO STRANGERS. There were believers who would escape from persecution and encountered difficulties to find food and lodging. Though it was clear, by offering hospitality the brothers were exposed to danger. To the believer who is in need, one is given. There is always the enthusiastic possibility that by doing so we could be lodging angels without knowing it. Abraham (Genesis 18:1-15) had that great experience of receiving angels. Maybe we’ll never have real angels in our homes; maybe we’ll take in men and women whose presence alone is a blessing and whose merciful influence over our family may result in them reaching eternity. Acts 16:33 The jailer of Philippi and Lydia (Acts 16:14) offered lodging and helped the brothers; they weren’t angels, but they were servants in the list of the chosen. She, the jailer and their family were all saved (Acts 16:33-34). They both did everything possible with plea, effort and passion and devotion to obligate Paul, Silas and Luke to stay at their home for their wellbeing and for their families. It cannot be said that Paul went too far, Paul wanted to continue his journey, but Lydia struggled for her blessing. In this way her family was also saved and baptized. Anyone who has the spirit of that jailer and that woman can reach what can only be obtained by receiving those who have that call to lead others to Jesus’ feet and to be baptized. The THIRD exhortation has to do with THE CARE FOR THE IMPRISONED BELIEVERS. Thank God, we don’t see this here. Those servants in deed lived this on a daily basis. In Paul's case, he lived it over and over again. We can see Luke with Paul. Being a doctor he was constantly in prison next to Paul, he did not lose the elderly Paul’s footstep. Luke grew in the prisons with Paul. He knew Paul directly, not in great stadiums or great multitudes, but great prisons, full of rats, scarcity, violent coldness, contempt, mockery and loneliness. Luke knew to visit a prisoner, Paul. John Mark was also there, "... because he is helpful to one in my ministry." 2 Timothy 4:11 The Second Letter to Timothy was the end of Paul, there was no one who could stop him, not prison, or scarcity, not even the cruelty against him. An elderly, each gray hair was of respect, he hadn’t done anything to anyone, he only knew how to love and take Christ to the four winds. Now he asks Mark, the one he had reprimanded and did not want

for a long time in the ministry for not being vigorous or because he still ignored many things. Paul was full of God’s will with every effort, and Mark was still in his mother's lap although he was acquainted with Christ. (Acts 15:37, 38) It did not seem alright to Paul to take with him the one who had deserted them. John Mark grew and earned the grade of honor to be useful to Paul. Imprisoned for Christ! Let it be clear that nowadays one is imprisoned for other reasons. They needed warm clothes, food, reading materials and encouragement. The temptation for the other believers was to stop associating with the imprisoned believers, in other words, to stop visiting them fearing to be accused for gathering to help them in prison. To visit the prisoners was to visit Christ, because of Him they were imprisoned, it was the same cause. "To the mistreated", again, this refers to Christians who are persecuted. To resist to every tendency to hide from the danger involved in that compassion. We should remember that we are in the body just like them and for that to subject to similar afflictions. Here we do not have a permanent city. Our behavior should be for the permanent city. When we seek the city in which we’re going to live, then there is a way for us to behave and live. There are duties which are fraternal love, lodge those prisoners of Christ, the mistreated, take care of the marriage, and cultivate happiness. We have to walk as it is worthy of the permanent city. Many have become attached to this world, to what perishes, to what comes to an end. The fulfillment should be for that city where everyone wants to go, but with that conduct they’re not going anywhere, without an effort to grow, to pray, to humiliate, they only live to possess here. Of my duties there is another (THE FOURTH) which is MATRIMONY. How wonderful it is to meet with those who know how to manage their marriage! Because they have understood that they manage their marriage as a duty for that permanent city. Marriage goes further more than we can understand; it is a rule for those who desire the permanent city. Marriage should be taken as something honorable for everyone. Remember that it was instituted by God before sin entered the world and that it is His holy will for humanity. Unfortunately, it is treated as something impure. When jokes or mockery are made of it, when Christians make jokes or mockery, to not respect in fidelity, to not give the honor it deserves, is totally prohibited by the Scriptures. Those who decide to raise a marriage should remain honest. The married should maintain their conjugal bed stainless. Every sexual relationship out of the matrimonial bond IS SIN. And everyone should know this. Be faithful to that bed (lecho) that God gave since the beginning of the earth. Adultery is not an illness; it is a sin. Although anyone can think that it has been forgotten, the Scripture says that it is a sin that God will unavoidably judge. No form of immorality will escape. He judges them by means of corporal ailments, breakage of families, nervous and mental afflictions, deformities of the personality and unless they are forgiven through the blood of Christ, He will judge them in the eternal fire. The FIFTH virtue to cultivate is HAPPINESS. "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have." Those Jewish people lived very proud with what they had: "we have the tabernacle, we have the priesthood, the offerings, the altar, the lovely ritual, and what do you have?" Those who had converted had scarcity, no more rituals, they no longer had the temple, they weren’t welcomed, and they no longer had the priests. The writer tells them to remain calm. They took away what was the greatest for them, it was their life and now they have nothing. It is clear that what they had now is more than what Judaism could offer them. Why would they not be happy? THEY HAD CHRIST AND HE IS SUFFICIENT! The

love for money can be an enormous obstacle for the believer. If a silver coin before the eye intervenes between him and the sun covets it, it breaks the communion with God and obstructs the spiritual growth. The greatest riches that no one can have reside in the possession of THE ONE who has promised. Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." It is the great impossibility that Christ will forsake His own. It is a virtue that we should cultivate- happiness, to rejoice with everything because everything will be well-being for you, and for our well-being God does what He does around our lives, although you can’t understand it. Be happy, do not argue. Amen.