Daily Bread

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’

Strangers, prisoners, the tortured, the defiled, and the underprivileged — the message is that God is concerned and looking out for those who are oppressed by others and asks us to do the same. Did you notice that all of the categories mentioned are not people marginalised by their own actions, but by other people? It seems that the writer of the letter to the Hebrews is writing to those that are downtrodden, wanting them to reflect on their own situation, and wanting them to remember that they are not alone — that although others may be belittling them or hurting them, someone much bigger is standing by their side, and that person is God.

I remember on one dark evening, when I was a community worker, looking out of the community centre window and seeing some men attacking a car with baseball bats. I ran out into the street to try and break up the fight (not the most clever thing to do) and the car sped off, leaving me alone and facing two men holding baseball bats. Before things turned ugly, my friend Derek who managed the local Blockbuster Video store, stepped out onto the street, "You alright Gav?" he called. The two men looked at me, looked at Derek, and turned and fled. I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Derek, "Boy, am I glad to see you!" I should point out that Derek was about six foot seven and built like a brick shit house!

Jesus never said being a Christian would be an easy ride, and throughout history, Christians have found themselves being excluded, imprisoned, hurt, failed, and depleted. We may be robbed of our bodies, our emotions, and our intellect, however, no-one can ever separate us from the love that is in Christ Jesus. No-one can take God from our hearts. Today, if you are feeling isolated, crushed, alone, destitute, or crestfallen, remember these words from the letter to the Hebrews, "The Lord will never leave me or forsake me, for the Lord is my helper. Therefore, I will not be afraid, for what can anyone do to me?"

Holy God
When others put me down,
and I face trials and tribulations,
Help me to not get angry,
but to lean into your strength and comfort.
May I also remember to always do to others
that which I would have done for me.
Through Jesus Christ my Lord,
Amen