Grace For Your Day July 10

All throughout history, Christians have been known for being a very compassionate people. For example, one historian named Alvin Schmidt points out that the spread of Christianity stopped / slowed down the following practices from occurring around the time of the Roman Empire:

• Abortion
• Infanticide
• Child abandonment
• Child abuse
• Gladiatorial combat
• Branding on the faces of criminals
• Polygamy
• Human sacrifice
• Cruelty towards prisoners
• The mistreatment of women
• The exploitations of the poor
• Slavery

He also mentioned that Christianity had other impacts on modern society such as the creation of orphanages, hospitals, and homes for the disabled.

His point is not that the church has been perfect all throughout history but that the Lord has used it to make an impact on our culture. It has continually been used to be salt and light to a world that is dying which is what the Book of Hebrews is referring to in the last chapter. Hebrews 13:1-4 says:

Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Marriage is to be held in honor among all . . .

While some of that may sound strange because it does not seem to relate to what has been said in the rest of this book, it does not need to because the connection is very clear. The author says that, if you are saved, then you will act like it. If Jesus Christ has come into your life and you have believed in Him (like the first 12 chapters of Hebrews encourages you to do) then you will show it by doing the following things:

• Loving your brothers (verse 1)
• Showing hospitality (verse 2)
• Visiting prisoners (verse 3)
• Keeping your marriage strong (verse 4)
• Staying free from the love of money (verse 5)
• Being content with what you have (verse 5)

Why? Because faith without works is dead. The reason he says all of this is because it is not enough to just profess Jesus with your lips. You must do it with your lives. It is not okay to just say that you are a Christian. You need to prove it as well because "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2:10).

This is a convicting thought because we all fall short of this high calling somewhere. No one is perfect. However, we can make progress in these things. We can all make an effort to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord” (2 Peter 3:18) and “be even more diligent to make your call and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10, NKJV).

If that is something that you would like to do, please join us as we talk about it Sunday morning. My prayer is that this sermon would be an encouragement for you to excel in the things of Christ as you seek to please Him more and more.

- Jeremy Cagle