Real Love

Hebrews 13:1-5 (NLT)
Continue to love each other with true Christian love. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

"I will never fail you.
I will never forsake you."



Real love for others produces tangible actions:
(1) kindness to strangers (Hebrews 13:2);
(2) empathy for those who are in prison and those who have been mistreated (Hebrews 13:3);
(3) respect for your marriage vows (Hebrews 13:4); and
(4) contentment with what you have (Hebrews 13:5).
Make sure that your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality, empathy, fidelity, and contentment.

Three Old Testament people “entertained angels without knowing it”:
(1) Abraham (Genesis 18:1ff),
(2) Gideon (Judges 6:11ff), and
(3) Manoah (Judges 13:2ff).

Some people say they cannot be hospitable because their homes are not large enough or nice enough. But even if you have no more than a table and two chairs in a rented room, there are people who would be grateful to spend time in your home. Are there visitors to your church with whom you could share a meal? Do you know single people who would enjoy an evening of conversation? Is there any way your home could meet the needs of traveling missionaries? Hospitality simply means making other people feel comfortable and at home.