Week 18 Conduct of the Honorable
Blessings counted, and rejoice
“Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.”
Seneca
Today’s Passage
15Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
16And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.
Hebrews 13:15–18 (NASB95)
Background
Quotes are summarized from Wikipedia. Passage summaries are from Biblehub.com by Jay Smith, with permission. Scripture comes from LOGOS software under license.
Quote-Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger (/ˈsɛnɪkə/ SEN-ik-ə; c. 4 BC – AD 65), usually known mononymously as Seneca, was a Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome, a statesman, dramatist, and in one work, satirist, from the post-Augustan age of Latin literature.
Seneca was born in Colonia Patricia Corduba in Hispania, and was trained in rhetoric and philosophy in Rome. His father was Seneca the Elder, his elder brother was Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus, and his nephew was the poet Lucan. In AD 41, Seneca was exiled to the island of Corsica under emperor Claudius, but was allowed to return in 49 to become a tutor to Nero. When Nero became emperor in 54, Seneca became his advisor and, together with the praetorian prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, provided competent government for the first five years of Nero's reign. Seneca's influence over Nero declined with time, and in 65 Seneca was executed by forced suicide for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero, of which he was probably innocent. His stoic and calm suicide has become the subject of numerous paintings.
Passage-The book of Hebrews is a General Epistle (Apostolic Letter). It was written mainly to the Hebrew believers. The author is anonymous, although either Paul or Barnabas was traditionally accepted as the author. It was written approximately 67 A.D. Its purpose was to present the Lord Jesus Christ as perfect and superior in comparison to anything Judaism and the old covenant had to offer. The author was writing to a group of Christians who were under intense persecution and some were contemplating a return to Judaism. He admonished them not to turn away from their only hope of salvation.
Opening Statement
The world doesn’t want followers of Jesus being obedient to God. The world knows what is in store for it and the withering sun tries to scorch the word of God away from His honorable children.
Ask: What does the word “neglect” mean?
Point: Please see the Definitions page.
Ask: How do we “neglect” doing good?
Point: We pay no attention, disregard, ignore, omit, are indifferent, or fail to see opportunities in our daily lives.
Ask: Where should we start if we want to heed Paul’s words and, “…not neglect doing good and sharing”?
Point: We start with God in gaining wisdom. Please read the following:
8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:8–10 (NASB95)
Ask: So, God is the beginning of wisdom and from Him comes understanding. How are wisdom and understanding connected to doing good?
Point: Because God defines what good is and what bad is. Please read the following:
3what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:3–5 (NASB95)
Ask: How does wisdom from God equal doing good just because God is good and defines what good is?
Point: Because we enter into a right relationship with the Creator of the universe when we acknowledge He is in charge, not us. Please read the following:
31He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise.
32He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
33The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.
Proverbs 15:31–33 (NASB95)
Ask: Why is being humble a prerequisite for wisdom and honor?
Point: Because we accept God as greater than we are which then puts us in the position to accept what He says good and bad, right and wrong are.
Ask: Why are we discussing getting wisdom and being humble if our goal is to do good deeds? How are they connected?
Point: Because when we accept that good is defined by God, we also accept His ways are good for us making us a wise example others can follow. Please read the following:
17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17–18 (NASB95)
Ask: How then do wisdom and honor help us not neglect doing good deeds?
Point: We accept God’s leadership to walk His path in our lives and help those He chooses to send us.
Ask: Why are wisdom and honor connected to doing good and how do they relate to the quote for the lesson?
Point: Because when we accept God as the source of wisdom we learn more about His ways and how to do things. This makes us reflect Him to those we meet. Please read the following:
14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14–16 (NASB95)
Ask: So, how then should we conduct ourselves as we go about our daily lives?
Point: Please re-read verse 15 of Today’s Passage:
15Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
God is the creator of the heavens and the earth, the alpha and omega, the beginning, and the end. 10“For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10 (NASB95) News flash, He owns the hills too. It is all God’s, but that also means we are God’s. That should be comforting because it means He took the time to create us just as we are, with unique gifts and skills. We can use those gifts and skills for the betterment of His kingdom or we can neglect that task. If we begin by being grateful for the gifts we have, we start with saying thank you, and then we move on from there. A grateful heart begins the road to wisdom with a step of honor praising His name. The good deeds follow naturally from there.
Tasks for the Week
Task 1 Start each day thanking God for as much or as little as you are led to thank Him for sacrificing a small amount of time to praise His name at the beginning of the day.
Task 2 Pick one chapter of the Bible and read it each day this week.
Task 3 Take one action during the day related to the text you read.
Task 4 At the end of the day reflect on the scripture and the action taken based on that passage.
Task 5 Write as much or as little as you are led to write about the day in your journal.
Definitions
All definitions come from Dictionary.com
All Greek entries are from James Strong as listed in the LOGOS software attributed as WORDSearch 2020
Neglect
[ ni-glekt ]
verb (used with object)
1. To pay no attention or too little attention to; disregard or slight:
The public neglected his genius for many years.
Synonyms: ignore
2. To be remiss in the care or treatment of:
to neglect one's family; to neglect one's appearance.
3. To omit, through indifference or carelessness:
to neglect to reply to an invitation.
4. To fail to carry out or perform (orders, duties, etc.):
to neglect the household chores.
5. To fail to take or use:
to neglect no precaution.