Hebrews 13:1-19 | Why You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Loved
Imagine you’re sitting at a crowded dinner table. Across from you is a sibling you’ve just had a heated argument with. In most areas of life—at work, in a casual friendship, or on social media—the solution is simple: you walk away. You cancel the relationship. You move out.
But at the family table, it doesn’t work that way. You don’t stop being family just because things got hard. You stay. You work it out. You pass the salt, and eventually, you find a way to pass the peace.
At City on a Hill, we believe that when you follow Jesus, you aren't just joining a club; you’re being adopted into a family. And as we look at the final encouragements in Hebrews 13, we see a vision for a life that is truly "never alone"—a life where we love well, live free, and focus entirely on the One who never changes.
Loving Well: When Strangers Become Siblings
The New Testament is packed with "one another" statements, and nearly a quarter of them are about love. But this isn't a vague, sentimental feeling. It’s familial. It means we are in this through thick and thin.
In our community, one of the greatest joys is seeing two people who don't get along actually apply the Gospel. Instead of "canceling" each other, we choose to forgive because Jesus first forgave us. This love is actionable. It looks like:
Watching someone’s kids so they can rest.
Caring for each other financially.
Opening up a spare room for someone in need.
But our love doesn't stop at the church doors. We are called to "entertain strangers." Think about this: five years ago, most of us were strangers. Now, many of us have our best friends sitting in the next row. The Gospel has the power to turn a stranger into a sibling.
Living Free: The Gift of Constraint
We often think of "freedom" as the absence of rules. But real freedom—the kind that allows us to flourish—often comes wrapped in the "gift of constraint." Think of a parent restricting a child's screen time; it isn't out of spite, but out of love for the child’s well-being.
In Hebrews 13, the writer points to two areas that often control us: sex and money.
1. Sex is a Mirror: Marriage is meant to be a mirror and a picture. It’s a mirror that exposes our flaws, but it’s also a picture of Jesus’ singular, sacrificial love for His bride, the Church. Whether you are married or single, your "wholeness" isn't found in a human relationship—it's found in the sufficiency of Christ.
2. Money is a Window: If you want to know what you truly love, look at your bank statement. For some of us, our living rooms have basically become Amazon distribution centers because we are seeking comfort or security.
The Gospel frees us from the love of money. Why? Because God has promised: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." When you realize your security is in a King who never leaves, you can finally be content. You can finally be generous.
Focus on Jesus: The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever
It’s easy to get distracted. We get distracted by "strange teachings" on social media, by our own pain, or even by busy schedules. But the writer of Hebrews gives us a steady anchor: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
At City on a Hill, our goal isn't for you to be impressed by our leaders or our music. If you leave here thinking about a person rather than the Person of Jesus, we’ve failed. Leaders will change. Softwares will update. But Jesus doesn't have a "version 2.0." He is the reliable, beautiful source of our life.
The Gospel Pivot: You Don’t Have to Clean Up First
If this list of "loves" and "freedoms" feels like a heavy burden, you’re missing the heartbeat of the message. The truth is, we don't love perfectly. We don't always live free. We get distracted every single day.
But here is the good news: Jesus did it for you. Where we fail, He was perfect. He loved perfectly, lived perfectly free, and focused perfectly on the Father. He went to the cross not just as our example, but as our substitute. He paid for every distraction and every failure so that we can "just come."
You don't have to clean yourself up to find a place here. You just have to come to Jesus. He is the one who makes the way.
Visit our website at coahchurch.org and plan a visit to find a community where strangers become family and you are never alone.