Jesus told us that love for God and love for one another is the essence of the Law of Moses (Matthew 22:40). But this love has to be more than just a feeling – after all, both Jesus and Moses told us to love God with our mind and our strength as well as with our heart (Deuteronomy 6:5). So, how do we do that?

In the conclusion to his letter to the Hebrews, our author tells us that love for God of course involves valuing Him more than anything He has created. Instead of devoting ourselves to the pursuit of money, for example, we should be content with what God has given us (13:5), praising Him and giving Him thanks (13:15). And of course we express our devotion to God through our willingness to endure the sort of scorn and rejection that Jesus experienced on our behalf (13:12-13)

But our author also tells us that doing good to other people, sharing what we have with them, is a pleasing sacrifice to God (13:16). In other words, it turns out that loving one another is one way we express our love for God.

Okay, so how do we express our love for one another? Again, our author shows us that love is much more than a feeling. He says we show our love by demonstrating hospitality, even to strangers (13:2). We show our love by visiting those who are in prison (13:3). We show our love by being faithful to our marriage vows and by pursuing sexual purity, even when our feelings pull us in different directions (13:4).

Finally, we can show our love to the leaders of our congregations, those who are responsible for the health of our souls. And how do we do this? By listening to the Word of God they preach to us, by living according to the godly example they set for us (13:7), and by obeying them when they encourage us to greater consistency in our Christian lives (13:17). Loving our elders in this way should thus bring us back to a greater love for God.

Yes, loving God and loving one another involves a whole lot more than just how we feel. Will we seek to live in that kind of love today?

Hebrews 13:1-25 (ESV)

Let brotherly love continue.
2 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.
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
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?”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.