August 31, 2025 Text: Hebrews 13:1-17
Dear Friends in Christ,
What is an imperative? Grammatically it is a command, something you have to do. Someone who cares for you may say, “Get to the doctor.” We tell our kids if they are flirting with danger, “Don’t touch that.” Even gentle commands can be imperatives, “Could you please pass the rolls.” God commands us to love our enemy and our neighbor and we know in our heart we should be doing it.
An imperative can also mean something that is necessary. It is imperative we get to the airport on time. It is imperative to brush our teeth. It is imperative the Chicago Bears get a few breaks this fall if we want to see them in the playoffs. With that last one, we aren’t even involved. Somebody else has to perform for the good result to happen.
Today in Hebrews 13 we have imperative overload. Maybe you don’t like to be told what to do, well hang on to your shorts. We have got some commands for us to follow and then others that are necessary for God to do. What sorts of things?
“WHAT’S IMPERATIVE FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING?”
Well, let’s get to it. God commands these things. Practice brotherly love. Show concern for our fellow Christians. Keep the marriage bed undefiled. That is intercourse in marriage good and holy. Intercourse outside of marriage in any context is breaking God’s design. Avoid coveting and love for the greenbacks. Focus on the eternal and not the temporal. Present worthy sacrifices of praise and confession. Whew. How you feeling so far? Can we go on?
We made it through some rough waters, let’s calm it down a bit. Christ has given us life. He has granted to us what we need to follow these imperatives. We have been given Christian life by Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Listen to verses 8 and 12. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” “So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.” He strengthens us Christians for lives of good works with the promise of His presence. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (v. 5b). With that reminder in our brain, we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (v. 6). He sustains our lives of Christian faith through his chosen leaders. We prayerfully imitate the faith. Looking to them for guidance.
We are reminded of the unchanging nature of Christ. His obedience is consistent every day. Our nature as Christians should be the same. There’s an imperative! With the Holy Spirit’s help, we are “Christlike”, letting the world see Christ. Our words and actions should be a reflection of Christ’s grace and mercy, regardless of our circumstances.
We fully accept the teachings of Jesus and don’t give in to strange doctrines. People also want to return to the law; it is part of human nature. Instead of Christ-like they want to Moses-like. But even Moses understood a promise. A Savior was coming. Christ in the flesh who would give us full pardon from sin by God’s undeserved grace. Redemption does not come by keeping a list of rules but by Christ’s merits given to us in the Means of Grace.
What’s Imperative for Christian Living? Both imperatives. The commands to practice brotherly love, hospitality, holy marriage, eternal focus, remembering those in prison, using money properly and give worthy sacrifices of confession. We do this strengthened by the cross of Christ. He sustains our Christian living by His presence, His forgiving Means of Grace, and His faithful servants who bring them to us. It’s imperative He does all that for us.
Amen.