The
Hebrew writer exhorted his readers to “obey
them that have the rule over” them
and to “submit”
themselves to their authority. These “rulers” “watched
for” their
“souls, as they that must give
account”,
and the writer's desire was for these authorities to “do
it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for”
them. In
chapter thirteen and verse eighteen of Hebrews, the writer exhorted
his readers to
“pray for”
he
and his companions
where we read:
Pray
for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing
to live honestly.
The
verse begins, “Pray
for us: for we trust we have a good conscience,...”.
The writer
began with the words, “Pray for us”
which means
“supplicate and worship for the writer of Hebrews and his
companions”: “for we trust”
or “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore
the writer of Hebrews and his companions believe, listen to, obey,
yield to and comply that” “we have
a good”
which means “the writer of Hebrews and his companions have a
beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing and
magnificent” “conscience”
or “the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and
bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter while commending
one and condemning the other”. The readers of Hebrews were directed
to “pray”
for the writer and his companions because they “believed” they
were living with a “beautiful” “conscience”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...in
all things willing to live honestly”.
The writer
continued with the words, “in all
things” or
“in each, every, any, the whole and everything” “willing”
which means “having in mind, intending, resolved, determined and
purposed” “to live”
or “to abide, behave and conduct one's self” “honestly”
which means “beautifully, finely, excellently, well, nobly,
commendably and in honor”. In addition to soliciting prayers for
them, the writer of Hebrews and his companions desired for the
readers to know they desired to live in a “commendable and
honorable” way.
When
we think through these words in Hebrews, we understand the importance
of “praying” for those who care for us. The writer of
Hebrews cared for his readers, and he believed he and his companions
desired to “live honestly” with a clear “conscience”.
Even as Jesus led his disciples to “pray” we also should
“pray” for those who are in authority and especially for
those who have “spiritual” authority over us. Our passion should
be that of the Hebrew writer who “had in mind and intended” to
live a “commendable and honorable” life. May the Heavenly Father
and our Lord Jesus help us have the same desire of the writer of
Hebrews, and may others know our passion by the way we live.
Next
time the writer tells his readers that he desires to be “restored
to” them
“the
sooner”,
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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