The
Hebrew writer told his readers to “Be not forgetful to
entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels
unawares”, and in
chapter thirteen and verse three of Hebrews, the writer shared
how his readers should “Remember them that are in bonds”
“and them which suffer”
where we read:
Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them;
The
verse begins, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound
with them;”. The writer began
with the word, “Remember”
which means “recall, be mindful of and call to mind” “them
that are in bonds” which
refers to “captives or prisoners”, “as bound”
or “like being tied together or fashioned” “with
them” which means “alongside
the ones captive”. The readers of Hebrews were to “be mindful”
of people who were “prisoners” among them as though they were
“captives” too.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”.
The writer
continued with the words, “and them”
or “and
the people” “which suffer
adversity” or
“who are oppressed, treated ill and plagued”, “as
being yourselves also”
which refers to “that the readers in the same manner likewise
relate” “in the body” or
“within the sufferer's body”. The readers were also to keep in
mind those who were “oppressed and plagued” among them in a way
that could relate to their “afflictions”.
When
we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how the Lord desires
for us to keep in mind people who are in “prisons” and
“suffering”. So often people who are “captive” and
“afflicted” are “forgotten” particularly in seasons where
families gather together such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. Jesus
“remembered” us in our affliction and “imprisonment” of
“sin”, and we are to reach out to people who are in these
conditions as well. May all who read these words know and consider
the will of the Lord for “prisoners” and those who “suffer”
among us.
Next
time the writer tells his readers, “Marriage
is
honorable in all, and the bed undefiled”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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