Ezra 5:5-11 ESV

5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

WHEN THE SPIRIT WORKS.

Everything that they lost were recovered. It’s because of the Spirit’s working. All the vessels that King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian’s had looted 70 years earlier were brought back to Jerusalem. This was not short of miracle. What they thought were lost, it seems to us that they were just deposited for safe keeping in Babylon for seven decades.

Why?

The temple has to be rebuilt and all the utensils needed must be there. With God’s favor, “all who were about them aided them [exiles] with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.”[v.6] In short, they were blessed with overflowing.

Indeed, it’s a beautiful picture to see the exiles returning with their caravans loaded with blessings. But, the most spectacular sight is the revived hearts of the “heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites.”

Let us ask God to stir our hearts today, as He should breath life into our souls. May “out of [his] hearts will flow rivers of living water.” [John 7:38] Just as Jesus had told each one of us, that is, to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” [Matt 7:7] What should motivate us to be more persistent? It’s because of Jesus’ assuring words, that is, “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! [Matt 7:8-11]

The story of the exiles had reminded us that God is trustworthy. Though at times, our circumstances may cloud our vision, the fact remains that God is neither silent nor indifferent. He is working when it seems that He isn’t. No amount of concerted human efforts and resources can substitute the working of God’s Spirit. What a hundred-year human labor produces is only as a drop in a bucket in comparison to what the Spirit can do in a minute.

Amidst the plethora of man’s activities nowadays, the Spirit’s touch is what we desperately need for a spiritual turn around.

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Ezra 1:1-4

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA.

As an introductory note, Ezra, the author was a priest and scribe of the Law (see Ezra 7:6). He returned to Jerusalem to build the temple at the sixth year of Darius reign, who succeeded Cyrus. This was, about fifty years after the first return under Zerubbabel. With him was a great company and much treasure; with letters to the king's officers to get all the things needed for the temple. And at his coming, he fixed that which was faulty, and set things in order.

As mentioned in Isaiah 44:28, it is probable, that this decree of Cyrus in favour of the Jews was in a great measure owing to the good reputation of Daniel, now an aging minister of state famed over all the east for his great wisdom.

Who was Cyrus? He was the emperor of the Medo-Persian empire, practically ruling the known world at that time. According to Hales, “The Persian empire, including Persia, Media, Babylonia, and Chaldea, with many smaller dependencies, was founded by Cyrus, 536 B.C.” His first year of reign was immediately upon the finishing the 70th year of Israel's captivity. This is a great point in this history to attend to, inasmuch as it becomes a confirmation of the word of God concerning the desolation of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 25:11-12.

God sovereignty is reassuring. He has declared and He can use whatever means to fulfill His purpose and plan for His people. Certainly, whatever God said, He will surely do it. [Num 23:19] However, the way He will accomplish it is beyond our grasp[Isa 55:8,9], and in most cases, surprising. [see Psa 126] Psa 76:10 even says, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.” As Solomon had declared, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

Fast forward, why did Caesar Augustus decree that all the world should be registered? [Luke 2:1] So, the poor couple, Joseph and Mary, who was on the family way, had to travel on foot back to Bethlehem. It was there that Jesus was born according to God’s sovereign plan. As Gal 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” Did not Micah prophesy hundreds of years earlier? He wrote:

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.”

Nothing is accidental or incidental in God’s kingdom. Everything is beautiful in His time. [Ecc 3:10]. Thus, mankind’s history is actually His story. Let’s trust Him. He knows what He is doing. 

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Hebrews 13:20-25 ESV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.

THE GOD OF PEACE.

It was the resurrection of our Lord Jesus which proved the reconciliation we have with the Father was perfected. Through Christ, the God of peace, had accepted us back to Himself. Amazingly, the Lord Jesus as our Great Shepherd became also the sacrificial Lamb. His blood was shed in order to establish the eternal covenant with us. As the apostle Peter had said, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” [1 Pet 3:18] In short, God had done His perfect work in Jesus to secure us to Himself.

Having been at peace with God, we should strive to live the peace of God. Having perfected His saving work, He is doing His sanctifying work for us now. He is ‘working in us’, that is energizing us to do His will. As the apostle Paul had said, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” [Phil 2:13]

The Christian life isn’t marked by ‘ups and downs’ as in a roller coaster journey. It’s should be by the ‘ins and outs’ as in breathing. He must work[breath] in us the life so we can work it out. As we couldn’t get water out of a dry well, we couldn’t pump out life from our flesh.

Thus, God in the new covenant had said;

“ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people. [Heb 8:10]

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.” [Ezek 36:26,27]

While we rejoice that the God who had perfected our salvation, let us submit to His working in our sanctification.

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Hebrews 13:18-19 ESV

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

PRAY FOR US.

To intercede for others in their times of need, specially leaders, is the common practice in our churches, isn’t it? When we perceive that one is doing fine, we aren’t motivated to pray for him. In other words, our prayers are more curative in nature than pre-emptive.

Here, it’s a different case. The writer had invoked his need of prayer when they were doing just fine. He was so sure that they had a ‘clear conscience.‘ A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can possibly befall us. (T. Addison.)

B Sibbes wrote, “There is no friend so good as a good conscience. There is no foe so ill as a bad conscience. It makes us either kings or slaves. A man that hath a good conscience, it raiseth his heart in a princely manner above all things in the world. A man that hath a bad conscience, though he be a monarch, it makes him a slave. A bad conscience embitters all things in the world to him, though they be never so comfortable in themselves. What is so comfortable as the presence of God? What is so comfortable as the light?”

What is most crucial to the leaders are the condition of their hearts, as in all of us. Solomon had said, “ Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” [Prov 4:23]. Their integrity is paramount above their skills. [1 Tim 3:1-8] Should their relationship with God is skewed, we couldn’t ‘consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.’ [Heb 13:7] Sadly, many gifted and popular leaders are soiled with moral scandals so that many in the body of Christ are offended.

The devil’s ploy hasn’t changed to smite the shepherds so the sheep will scatter. All spiritual leaders, like Paul, could only be effective through lives sanctified and sustained by His grace. Thus, every spiritual leader may say, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” [1 Cor 15:10-11]

In reality, all of us are in imminent danger, aren’t we? Thus, we must “be sober-minded; be watchful. Our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” [1 Pet 5:8]. His work ethics is incomparable by working 24/7! Since “ Satan disguises himself as an angel of light”[2 Cor 11:14], we should not lower our guards and take things for granted, should we? He is the father of lies and is extremely dangerous. [John 8:44]. Thus, Pauls admonition to “pray without ceasing” makes sense.

We can only move forward towards the advancement of the kingdom of God only on our knees. As S. Chadwick has articulated, “Satan dreads nothing but prayer. His one concern is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”

The key to victory is prayer. Thus, brethren, pray for us. Let’s pray for one another.

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Hebrews 13:14-16 ESV

14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

WE SEEK THE CITY THAT IS TO COME.

Should we have no ‘lasting city’ here, we should feel unsettled as pilgrims and exiles in this world. We won’t allow the spiritual dust to settle for they are always on the move, pressing forward until we are ushered into the ‘celestial city.’ Like the account of our spiritual heroes in Heb 11:14-16, that is, “they made it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

Having been assured of an eternal covenant in Him [Jesus], these pilgrims had burst into ecstatic worship. They ‘continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.’ Although they were being persecuted and ostracized, the fruit of their lips had resounded unto the exaltation of God’s name. Out of the abundance of their joyful hearts had flowed their sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

“Praise that pleases God is the fruit of our lips, more than just thoughts directed towards God. It is spoken out unto the Lord, either in prose or in song. “What proceeds from the lips is regarded as fruit, which reveals the character of its source, as the fruit of a tree reveals the nature of the tree.” (Guthrie)

Thus, present circumstances don’t necessarily sour the soul, soaked in the grace of God. As the kettle can whistle under the fire, His grace indeed can help us to transform a lemon into a lemonade; a test into a testimony; and a mess into a message. Thus, genuine worship is manifested during our darkest moments.

Moreover, spiritual pilgrims ought to be a blessing to others in need. They who had received God’s strength do have the capacity to bless, don’t they? As hurting people may hurt others, blessed people would bless others correspondingly.

How about us today? Have we abounded in our sacrifices of worship and good works toward God and others, respectively? Yes, as pilgrims living in tents, we may not find the comforts found on the houses of bricks and mortars. We should be always ready to be uprooted and obey God at any moment of the day, should we not? “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” [2 Cor 4:16-18].

“We are just pilgrims in this world but citizens in heaven. God doesn’t allow dual citizenship.”

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Hebrews 13:9-13 ESV

9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

LET US GO TO HIM OUTSIDE THE CAMP AND BEAR THE REPROACH HE ENDURED.

Our world is littered with ‘diverse and strange teachings’, even before. But, if you take notice, all of them had something in common. It’s marked by what a person does. The offering of food in the altar appears in a broad spectrum, from the simplest to the most elaborate. Sadly, all of these had no spiritual benefit to the offerer. Nothing but a sense of either pride or fear. Pride for having done something better than others. Fear for the uncertainty that what they are doing are not good enough.

But, we have an altar, a different one. Those who are inside the tent [the Judaistic tabernacle with all its rituals] have no right to partake [eat] in it. Religion[Judaism] and grace are evidently incongruent as circle is to a triangle. There is no middle ground. ‘Grace’ doesn’t involve eating ‘meats’. In other words, the ongoing practice of offering of animal blood, with a part of the bodies burned and other parts are eaten, is an insult to the perfect sacrifice of Christ at His altar [the cross]. He did it outside the camp, which is Golgotha or Calvary. The suffering of Christ at the cross is the embodiment of God’s grace, isn't it? Why? Unlike in going to the temple, wherein each one should bring his offering, it was the Father who brought the offering for us. Grace does make us appear as 100% recipients always. If we have any contribution, it will cease to be grace.

The religionists[insiders] had ostracized the believers of being heretical because they weren’t doing the ritualistic tradition anymore. Like the useless bodies of animals dumped and burned outside the gate, so they despised the followers of Jesus as garbage. Interestingly, Jesus was crucified outside the gate of Jerusalem not incidentally. They cursed Him. Crucifixion was the most horrible expression of ignominy. However, to us, His redeemed people, He is the ‘fairest of ten thousands’ or ‘the pearl of great price’.[see Matt 13] How true is this old saying, “One’s trash is somebody’s riches.” Christ is seen as trash by the unbelievers but the believer’s riches, is He not? The stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. [1 Pet 2;7]

Today, we’ve got to make a choice. Children are amusing when they play, “Are you in? Are you out?” Childish as it may seem, but, we’ve not outgrown these questions in the arena of life, even today. Either we are for Jesus or against Him. Either we’re his followers or not. Born again or not? Dead or alive in Christ? Being half-dead or half-alive are misnomers.

Those who are truly His would be willing to go with Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. Even Jesus has said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” [Luke 9:23]

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Hebrews 13:7-8, 17 ESV

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

HONOR YOUR LEADERS.

Because of their faith, persecutions were common to Christians. Consequently, their leaders are the prime targets. They bore the shame attaching to their faith of Christ and had persevered in good works. Some of them did not survive. In this context, we are enjoined to remember them, with the focus to consider ‘who they were.’ Official status was not yet defined and official titles were not yet universal during these times. In other words, their integrity stood out and spoke volumes, making them worthy examples to others. Since their lives were worth emulating, believers were enjoined to imitate their faith, that is, the way they live.

For most leaders in the world, their oratorical or communication skills are given with primary importance. Whereas, for the spiritual leaders, their manner of life is. The manner of life of the pastor is closely entwined with his ministry. How he lives matters greatly. They may do things professionally, but they’re not professionals. A professional [e.g. lawyer, doctor, engineer, etc.] may live a double-life. Yet, his effectiveness isn’t hampered, if ever, it’s significantly minimal. On the other hand, it’s unthinkable, even unacceptable, if a spiritual leader has known moral issues. Though not perfect, he must be ‘above reproach’. [1 Tim 3:2] Who they are matter most than what they do.

What is the reason of their tenacity in their faith? It’s because of the immutability of Jesus, the object of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. It’s incumbent for all of us, therefore, to ‘look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’[Heb 12:2] However, we need respectable spiritual leaders like Paul, who said, ‘Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.’[1 Cor 11:1]. Thus, Paul had recognized that his life had effectively influenced the believers in Thessalonica for Christ. He said, “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” [1 Thess 1:6]

Having seen their exemplary manner of life, we are enjoined to ‘obey and submit to them.’[see v.17] We do submit only to somebody who we trust, don’t we? They are called to watch souls, with the purpose of care and protection. [see Acts 20:28] However, could they do it joyfully if we are either reluctant or resistant ourselves? This old adage is so true, “It’s better to watch a thousand cattles than to do it for one soul.” Paul had expressed this pressure when he said, “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” [2 Cor 11:28]

Lamentably, our religious world is littered with ‘spiritual predators’ as wolves in sheeps clothing. Some of us may have been victims to their wily schemes. Thereby, we had lost trust to any leader, today. Don’t throw the baby with the bath water. Or, you may be blessed by a good communicator or preacher via the internet in this Covid-19 locked down season. We give credit to the advances in technology for this. But, you can know for certain only the manner of life of your pastor at your home church – their dedication, sincerity and compassion. Thus, be prayerful, supportive and loyal to their leadership. Your pastor does only exercise leadership well if you offer it to him, doesn't he?

Hebrews 13:5-6 ESv

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

COVETOUSNESS VS. CONTENTMENT.

Covetousness and contentment are diametrically opposed virtues. In what ways? Covetousness is a sign of unbelief to God. Jesus has warned us, saying, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” [Luke 12:15] A covetous person trust his money to secure his life and future so that he loves it above anything else. Simply put, it is idolatry. [Col 3:5, Eph 5:5].

Contentment, on the other hand, is one’s feeling of sufficiency because of his faith in Christ. Even in his direst circumstance, Paul was deeply contented. He testified, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” [Phil 4:11-13] Jesus even had assured us, saying, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” [ Matt 6:31-32]

God’s promises are our security not our possessions. He knows our end from the beginning. [Isa 46:10] He will never leave us nor forsake us. Our God will supply every need of ours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. [Phil 4:19] And God has assured us that He will fulfil His promises. Numbers 3:19 says;

“God is not man, that he should lie,

or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?

Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

In short, “in him [Christ] it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” [2 Cor 1:19b,20]

Today, are you certain in your hearts that you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior? “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” [Rom 8:32] Is there a need in your life greater than Jesus Himself that God can not or would not provide? Nothing!

However, it does follow that you put your trust on something or someone else if you have not trusted Jesus as yet. Most likely, it is money. But Jesus has warned “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” [Matt 6:24]

Covetousness and contentment are results in placing our trust either on our gold or God, respectively. Just for the play of words, “Gold’ can be read as “God” if the letter “l” is removed. Therefore, if God is our security, the ‘lust’ for more is no more pursued.

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Hebrews 13:4 ESV

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

HOLD MARRIAGE AS HONORABLE.

Once the smallest particle of a chemical element that can exist, the atom, is split, a nuclear fission is inevitable and becomes a threat to mankind. As a note, the word "atom" literally means "indivisible. Similarly, when man destroyed the basic institution of society, which is marriage, social problems had gone from bad to worse. Our present confusing issues of LGBTQS is a product of prolong neglect to the sanctity of marriage.

Let’s not forget that God had immortalized on that stone these inscriptions, “You shall not commit adultery” and “you shall not covet your neighbor's wife” [Ex 20:14,17a]. God, in His foreknowledge, knows that man will fall and consequently desecrate the marriage relationship. Why did God judge the world with a universal deluge during the time of Noah? Gen 6:4-5 says, “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Did not Jesus say,” For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark” [Matt 24:38,39] Why did God also rained fire at Sodom and Gomorrah? [see Gen 19] There is no escaping. God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

For this, Paul has painted a sad scenario, by saying, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” [Rom 1:28-32]

Man’s disregard in honoring the sacredness of marriage is as shooting his own foot. God’s command to honor marriage is for our protection as the corral to the wild stallions. Thus Paul had said, “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” [1 Cor 7:2-5]

Today, therefore, let’s uphold the sanctity of our marriages. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”[1 Thess 4:3-5]

The main purpose of marriage is to reflect the glory of Christ. [Eph 5:31-32]

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Hebrews 13:2-3 ESV

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS.

As followers of Jesus, we are commanded to practice hospitality. [see Rom 12:13, 1 Pet 4:9] And, this is one of the qualities leaders should embrace. [see 1 Tim 3;2, Titus 1:7,8]. Of these strangers, there could be a number of Christians traveling to other places for the first time. And, expectedly upon their arrival, they will look for safe places to stay. Christians may had found this need an opportunity to show brotherly love.

Hospitality involves trust. Knowing the background of a stranger is remote, and perhaps, in many cases impossible. Some Christians might have lost their trust to strangers because they were fooled or abused in the past. Yet, we must be hospitable and watchful, at the same time. One sad experience with one should not make us generalize that all strangers are phonies. Our goodness has to root in our experience to the unconditional love of Christ and not on the loveliness of the person.

Moreover, by doing so, what we are doing to the needy is tantamount of doing it to Jesus personally. [see Matt 25:35] Who knows that as Abraham and Lot, these strangers are angels coming to us. [Gen 18:1-22; 19:1-3]

Moreover, we should be kind to the prisoners. That is, we should empathize with their difficulties for being mistreated because of the gospel. As Paul had enjoined us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” [Rom 12:13] Paul himself as a prisoner had benefited greatly from the support of Christians. [see Phil 4:14-19]

Lastly, let’s take note of the hospitality and kindness of Jesus as our example. John said, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” [John 1:11-12] This is an irony of all ironies, isn’t it? Though He wasn’t received by His own people living in this world He created, He will receive anyone as part of His family should they receive Him. Man’s rejection is countered, if not overruled, by His compassion.

Thus, Paul had pointed out, saying, “and [He] might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” [Eph 2:16-19]

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