October 26 | Hebrews 13:1

Elaine Pierce
Oct 25
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Don't Stop - Keep On Keeping On

By Elaine Pierce

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters (Hebrews 13:1).

I'm sure you've heard the phrase "keep on keeping on." It came to mind when I read this short verse. What does it mean to keep on loving one another? The next verses give us a clue: entertain strangers....remember those in prison and those who are mistreated. I'll be honest: strangers and prisoners are not the first people I think of when I hear 'brothers and sisters.' My mind goes to members of my small group...the UALC church family. Those surely are my brothers and sisters. But the body of Christ extends far beyond the walls of our church, or our living rooms or even our neighborhoods.

To keep on loving implies a commitment to action. It is not passive or simply romantic. Keeping on means acting in love even when it's difficult. It's not easy to love someone with whom you have nothing in common, at least on first impression. In the early 1990s, the church we attended helped a Ukrainian family immigrate to the US. They left Ukraine because of religious persecution, and they arrived with almost nothing, only what they could pack in their suitcases. They could not speak a word of English. They left family and friends, and they lived with our family for about three weeks before we found housing for them. They were strangers, to be sure, but we knew that they loved Jesus and wanted to serve him. [As an aside, today we pray for the family they still have in Ukraine as the war with Russia rages on].

Yes, it was hard to 'entertain strangers,' but the reward - lifelong friendship in Christ - is more than rewarding. Many times, I suspect, you have served a stranger and made a difference in their life, and you will only know that when you see them in heaven.

How we love our brothers and sisters will look different for everyone. You may bring a meal to a family who just had a baby. You may serve on a missions team in Honduras....or Morocco....or to flood-ravaged North Carolina. You may comfort a friend who lost their beloved wife or husband...you may visit a prisoner who is bitter, angry, and lonely, without a future and a hope. To be sure, none of these activities in and of themselves assure your salvation. That is already guaranteed through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. But let's encourage one another to 'keep on keeping on,' in doing deeds of active love and kindness. And yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.

PRAYER

Lord, it's so easy to love those who love me. Help me to look for opportunities to show active love and kindness to my brothers and sisters in Christ, whether they are near or far. Thank you for the body of Christ, and what a joy it is to serve in his name. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!