Acceptable Worship
10/28/25 Bible Thought (Hebrews 13)
Worship far surpasses what we do on Sundays for it also encompasses the way we live our lives each and every day for the glory of Christ.
In a handful of places in the New Testament, we see that biblical authors will take a portion of their writing to essentially give a summary of what the Christian life should look like. In few words much is said as regards Christian living. I think frequently to Romans 12, and likewise Hebrews 13 makes this list as well, amongst other passages.
As we turn to Hebrews 13, we see a powerful conclusion to a doctrinally heavy letter that is filled with exhortations. The previous chapter ended with a charge:
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29).
Now, in today’s chapter, I believe the author is showing us what acceptable worship looks like in the Christian’s day-to-day life.
Firstly, the believer ought to continue in brotherly love (Heb. 13:1) which is the defining characteristic of the Christian (see Jn. 13:35). With this, love can be showcased through hospitality (Heb. 13:2) and through remembering those who are suffering on behalf of Christ (Heb. 13:3).
Worship can be seen in a believer’s upright life as regards sexual purity, consisting of an undefiled marriage bed in a monogamous relationship (Heb. 13:4). Likewise, worship can be showcased as we maintain fidelity to God as our sole object for worship and avoid falling into the trap of loving money (Heb. 13:5).
The author challenges believers to be content with what we have, for God has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5b).
Truly, if the Lord is on our side, and He is presently with us in all things, we are blessed beyond measure. How could we bemoan our lack when we truly have the greatest need met: a relationship with the living God through His Son Jesus Christ? Physical wants that are unmet pale in comparison to spiritual needs that are met.
This in mind, the author also calls for believers to remember and honor spiritual leaders in their lives. This is done by imitating their faith and obeying their leadership in the Lord, as one day they will be accounted for by those leaders (Heb. 13:7,17).
The gospel is unchanging for Jesus Christ is unchanging (Heb. 13:8-9) and as such, we must follow the teachings of those who faithfully uphold Scripture and the true, biblical Christ.
Continuing on the subject of worship, worship in deed does not preclude worship in word. The author will point out part of our worship ought to be a “sacrifice of praise to God” which is the fruit of lips giving allegiance to His name (Heb. 13:15).
Passages like this one essentially give us a rubric for Christian living.
I remember one time in junior high I had a computer class where we were given an assignment with no rubric. I asked the teacher something like, “How are we to know if we are hitting the mark, if you aren’t giving us any idea of what we’ll be graded on?” She responded with something along the lines of, “You’ll figure it out.”
Well, we only “figured it out” when we received our grades.
It was incredibly frustrating to know you would be graded on some unwritten, entirely subjective standard. There was no assurance as to whether or not we were doing a good job on the project until we got our grade back.
Thanks be to God that He does not treat us this way. His Word is chock-full of commands, principles, exhortations, and guidelines for Christian living. No one with access to God’s Word can plead ignorance. On page after page, we are shown what living for Christ looks like.
From Christian love to faithfulness to Christ, to marital faithfulness, to contentment, to honoring Christian leaders in your life, to praise in word, and so on, God’s Word, especially in today’s passage, is incredibly clear.
The only question is: will we walk it out?