Pandemic Preaching - Sharing God's Love

 

"Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies." 
Hebrews 13:1-3

Concluding Words

The writer of the letter given to the early Jewish (Hebrew) Christians were divided into 13 chapters. The excerpt above were the opening lines of the concluding chapter.

I am guessing that in that place and time, siblings love one another. And that they do not normally extend the same to people they aren't related to or people they do not know -- especially people from another place, culture or belief system, or even those who look and speak differently than them.

Judging Others

They also do not care for those who have been incarcerated, sinners and low lifes and those who were suffering among them, including the poor, beggars and the homeless, or those beneath them in status.

And we can say basically the same thing about us. Except, I don't know if most people today still love their brothers and sisters the same way they did back in the day.

Nowadays, it is quite normal for most people to be wary and cautious of outsiders or people of a different creed, a different accent, or a different color.

We prejudge or look down on people who have done time or the homeless or those suffering because of abuse, disability, sickness or circumstances beyond their control or were maltreated or taken advantage of.

God's Love

But the writer of this letter is reminding those early believers (and all of us as well) to love our siblings and to extend the same love to strangers. Let us not be selfish, prejudiced, bigoted or racist.

Let us not be unconcerned, indifferent, unaffected or apathetic with the plight of others.

These and the general "I couldn't care less" attitude or "they're not my brother or sister" attitude is unbecoming of someone who has been reborn of the Spirit of God.

Pandemic Time

People are depressed, hungry, hurting, getting kicked out of their homes, out of work, sick and even dying or have loved ones who are sick or have passed away.

Times are uncertain but one thing is certain, Jesus was not out of touch with reality, He felt the pain and the suffering of other people. He wept for them. He empathized and He went out of his way to help them.

He was not concerned with Himself, His reputation or what would benefit Him. His love is real. He walked the talk.

Pandemic Preaching