“Let love of the brethren continue.” (Hebrews 13:1).
Concluding exhortations.
That was the topic of this morning’s adult Sunday school class. I am not on the circuit of regular teachers for this group of mature seniors, but I have been attending their class for nearly three years. I dearly love them, both collectively as a group and as individuals. Their words drip with wisdom, and their love breathes as genuine. They’ve lived long enough to find their compass—to anchor their hearts within a centered peace and an abiding faith that are not easily shaken.
So when I was asked to offer my voice as their leader, I welcomed the opportunity. Problem was…the invitation was issued a few months back, and in the busy of my past two weeks (i.e. vacation in Gatlinburg), I neglected its remembrance. Mid-week of my mountain retreat, I remembered and was tempted to bail. After all, I had left my curriculum guide at home and was weary with my lazy.
God gently reminded me that no curriculum was necessary. The truth of his Word, alone, was enough to carry me through. Thus, I contacted one of the class members to retrieve the scripture.
Hebrews 13:1-16.
A to-do list of sorts. Some final thoughts to punctuate the previous twelve chapters detailing the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
Loving one another.
Entertaining strangers.
Remembering those in prison.
Keeping sexual purity at a premium.
Keeping a love for money at a minimum.
Finding contentment in the “have”, realizing that the “have”—Jesus Christ—is all we’ll ever need.
Receiving the truth of that “have” as changeless—yesterday, today and forever.
Imitating the faith of the saints.
Guarding the Gospel as the truth.
Bearing the reproach of Christ.
Offering the praise of sacrifice.
Doing good and sharing that goodness with others.
Indeed. Some final, heavy thoughts, packed into sixteen verses of scripture duly categorized by modern-day translators as some…
Concluding exhortations.
And for all of the ways I could have taken the lesson this morning, sticking with the theme of this one phrase was the right way to go. Even though these words of organization are not included in the original manuscript, they are rich in their application, especially as it pertains to the contents of Hebrews 13.
I asked the class to consider their concluding exhortations. Exhortation, as found in Hebrews 13:22, is the Greek word paraklesis. It is a word meaning “encouragement, entreaty, consolation, admonition, importation, refreshment, and persuasive discourse.”[i] Thus, I challenged my pupils (whose wisdom and maturity surpass me by at least three decades) to pause and to consider what they might like to say as a concluding word of encouragement to those whom they love and to a world who desperately needs the exhortation of such Godly influence.
It is a tough question to ask, especially to souls who are aging and who, undoubtedly, live with some memories and pains and regrets that have shadowed them into these golden years of living. But tough is not always wrong, and this morning, tough was very right and became the tender soil of God’s plowing. I witnessed my students’ tears of understanding as we marshaled our way through sixteen verses of “forget-me-nots.”
They laced the discussion with their laughter, with their memories, with their truth and with God’s. And as quickly as the ten o’clock hour arrived, it left, and I was stunned by the provision of God’s grace and presence who arrived on the scene to partake in our discussion.
It is his promise to us, straight out of Hebrews 13:5-6.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”
Indeed, if there is one exhortation that breathes from the hearts of the Friendship Sunday School class, it is this simple truth. For all of the years traversed upon this earthly sod, there is God who has journeyed it with them. Fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, and almost ninety year’s worth of walking it through with the LORD, Covenant God. Helper and Sustainer of life.
Man has already done his doing over their lives–years worth of doing that have left some scars. But the fear, well it is mostly gone now, for they have learned the secret of being of content. In little and in much. In sorrow and in joy. In sickness and in health. In the present and in the tomorrow yet to come, for with each day comes Jesus. And they have all reached the conclusion that Jesus is, in fact, worth their living.
This is why they were there this morning, present and accounted for in a “doing” that they’ve been doing for a long season. This is why I was there this morning and will continue to attend the senior-adult Sunday school class at my church. The class members live and breathe a concluding exhortation worthy of my pause…worthy of my embrace. They warrant my time and my preparation, for they are my brethren, and my love for them and their love for me…continues.
Deeper. Stronger. And more fully with every conversation that we share. We are a Hebrews 13:1, loving kind of people. We’re working on the other verses, but this love thing?
We are living it, and it is my great joy and privilege to be living it alongside them. And so I pray…
Make me like them, Lord. Let my life breathe a concluding exhortation that includes love as its anchor. Keep me close to the wisdom of these saints, even closer to your truth, so that we may grow as one body in the unity and grace given to each one of us through your cross. Give me ears to listen, a heart to receive, and a hand to serve these precious friends of mine. Give them, each one, the strength to find their voice and the praise to find their lips so that their final chorus sings with a faith that will melody throughout the generations to come. Thank you for the privilege of their companionship along the road. They have been your grace to me, and I am the better for having them in my life. Amen.
[i] http://studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=Hebrews+13%3A22§ion=0&translation=nsn&oq=&sr=1
Copyright © June 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
God has been stirring my thoughts for another mini-study to begin in the near future. Stay tuned for further details. Shalom.
Wow. Sounds like a powerful lesson. How blessed you are to share in such sweet memories and thoughts! It makes me think of my own concluding exhortations. What a wonderful way to look at scripture, Elaine. I just love how you see His word. Can’t wait for the mini-study!
What a powerful word today. My oldest is turning 18 this week… makes me think of all the things that I want him to hear from my heart before he flies from the nest, hopefully I still have a while to gather them.
What a blessing to be in the company of such wise mature women. At our age… we have realized what a great teacher they can be… I wish that my children knew how helpful it could be to listen to the wisdom of ones that have gone ahead of them on the journey.
Thanks again for sharing wonderful chunks of God’s wisdom with us.
Lynn
I would love to be in your class Elaine! This was great via-blogclass—but to be there “for real”….now that would be Fun!!!
How like God it was for Him to usher me right in and point you out to be (with your back to me and everything!) How like God…the whole adventerous trip was amazing to me.
Love you much girl!
Hi Elaine, I am so sorry that I have missed your last few posts, so I wanted to let you know that I will be stopping back by tomorrow to catch up….So if you see me lurking around, don’t be afraid.:)
I’ll be talking to you soon.:)
I love your posts so much, Elaine.
Thank you for your sweet words to me.
God Bless,
Amy:)
What a special blessing for this senior adult class to have YOU for their teacher! How I wish I could be a part of your class. . but with the gas prices the way they are I’m afraid NC is just a little to far to come!
Thanks for sharing the thoughts in Hebrews.
I’ll sure be watching for the mini-study.
mary
This is something I must work on in my life. What a blessed class to have been invloved in. I especially loved your prayer at the end of the post. Beautiful friend.
In His Graces~Pamela
Susan’s paraphrase edition:
(I,Susan) always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when (I) pray for you, because (since I’ve met you)and heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of THE LOVE you have for ALL the saints — the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you” (Colossians 1:3 – 6).
Oh, what a blessing you are!
Looking forward to your next series, I’m ready!
Blessings♥
They’ve lived long enough to find their compass—to anchor their hearts within a centered peace and an abiding faith that are not easily shaken.
Wisdom here, big time. May we all learn from those that are willing to share the path that has been walked before us. They have something to bring to the table…let’s listen and invest in them.
Love,
Yolanda
I have come to the conclusion – there is no other place that I would rather be than to be in God’s Word. What a rich class and how blessed everyone is to be sharing such wisdom.
What a thought provoking exercise this would be for each of us. Blessings, marlene
You made a statement in your post “for with each day comes Jesus” I found that profound……We all need to awake from the night and understand that Jesus has not slept and with our new day comes the Savior….. It warms our hearts to have that reality in our lives….My heart wonders about the reality of others as they awake without that comfort………
Thanks for coming by my blog….
Summertime finds me having trouble getting to the blog as often as I would wish……
hugs
I long to be there…where they are now in their walk. I know that just as they had to walk through each day and all that day held…I too must walk through my own days to reach that place of wisdom. On our trip this weekend my four year old nephew was sitting in the back and he said “poof”. To which he followed with okay we are home. We had only been driving a hour of the five hour trip…his mom and I laughed…and replied “we wish”.
Wouldn’t it be nice if it was all that easy?! I do enjoy the “aha” moments when the hindsight of walking with Jesus comes though!
Wow. A crown of gray does not yet adorn my head – but your words today have urged me to follow hard right up until Christ meets me with His hands.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
I love to be around people who have seen many more years than me….They are full of life experiences that bring wisdom…one way or another.
There is so much to learn from them, and they are so eager to openly share it.:)
And I love these verses:
Hebrews 13:5-6.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”
Amen!:)
Another lovely post, Elaine!
God Bless,
Amy:)
Your love and admiration for these mature saints is so precious, humbling and challenging to me. This was undoubtedly an extraordinary blessing for you and them.
I so agree with your comment on my blog. We can’t just appreciate the heart tug of that story…we MUST be changed. I pray for an outpouring of the Father’s love in the face of such opportunities. What a privilege.
Blessings,
Tracy
This was amazing post, I loved every word, it dripped with the deep love you have for Gods word and for your students…
Thank you for sharing, you are in my prayers…
Connie
GBU
“May all who come behind us find us faithful”. Praying that as each auburn thread turns white, God will be using me and I will still be growing in Him.
Just last week attended the funeral of a precious saint who would have been 104 years old in just a couple of days. My husbands Grandma turns 108 this year, and her passion and love for the Lord is such an example. She talks with Him as Friend to friend, yet she longs to see Him face-to-face.
So thankful for His daily presence,
Joy