Service That Pleases God
1 Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord's followers should.
2 Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.
3 Remember the Lord's people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don't forget those who are suffering, but imagine you are there with them.
4 Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage.
5 Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. 6 This should make you feel like saying,
“The Lord helps me!
Why should I be afraid
of what people
can do to me?”
7 Don't forget about your leaders who taught you God's message. Remember what kind of lives they lived and try to have faith like theirs.
8 Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don't be fooled by any kind of strange teachings. It is better to receive strength from God's gift of undeserved grace than to depend on certain foods. After all, these foods don't really help the people who eat them. 10 But we have an altar where even the priests who serve in the place of worship have no right to eat.
11 After the high priest offers the blood of animals as a sin offering, the bodies of those animals are burned outside the camp. 12 Jesus himself suffered outside the city gate, so his blood would make people holy. 13 This is why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace. 14 On this earth we don't have a city that lasts forever, but we are waiting for such a city.
15 Our sacrifice is to keep offering praise to God in the name of Jesus. 16 But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.
17 Obey your leaders and do what they say. They are watching over you, and they must answer to God. So don't make them sad as they do their work. Make them happy. Otherwise, they won't be able to help you at all.
18 Pray for us. Our consciences are clear, and we always try to live right. 19 I especially want you to pray that I can visit you again soon.
Final Prayers and Greetings
20 God gives peace, and he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death. Now Jesus is like a Great Shepherd whose blood was used to make God's eternal agreement with his flock. 21 I pray God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.
22 My friends, I have written only a short letter to encourage you, and I beg you to pay close attention to what I have said.
23 By now you surely must know that our friend Timothy is out of jail. If he gets here in time, I will bring him with me when I come to visit you.
24 Please give my greetings to your leaders and to the rest of the Lord's people.
His followers from Italy send you their greetings.
25 I pray that God will be kind to all of you!
1 Brāļu mīlestība lai paliek! 2 Neaizmirstiet viesmīlību! Jo daži ar to, pašiem nezinot, savos namos ir uzņēmuši eņģeļus! 3 Atcerieties ieslodzītos - it kā arī jūs būtu tādi, tos, kas tiek mocīti, jo arī jūs paši esat miesā! 4 Laulība lai ir visiem godā un laulības gulta neaptraipīta, jo netiklos un laulības pārkāpējus Dievs sodīs. 5 Jūsu dzīvē lai nav mantkārības! Lai jums pietiek ar to, kas pie rokas, jo Viņš pats ir sacījis: Es tevi neatstāšu un tevi nepametīšu, - 6 tā ka mēs droši varam sacīt: Tas Kungs ir mans palīgs, es nebīšos! Ko cilvēks man darīs? - 7 Pieminiet savus vadītājus, kas jums Dieva vārdu runājuši; vērodami viņu dzīves galu, sekojiet viņu ticībai! 8 Jēzus Kristus vakar un šodien tas pats un mūžīgi. 9 Neaizraujieties ar visvisādām svešām mācībām, jo ir labi, ka sirds tiek stiprināta žēlastībā, ne ar ēdieniem, no kā nekāda labuma nav ticis tiem, kas tā dzīvo. 10 Mums ir altāris, no kā ēst nav brīv tiem, kas kalpo teltij. 11 Jo kuru kustoņu asinis augstais priesteris par grēkiem ienes svētnīcā, to miesas tiek sadedzinātas ārpus nometnes. 12 Tāpēc arī Jēzus, lai ar Savām asinīm tautu darītu svētu, ir cietis ārpus vārtiem. 13 Tāpēc iziesim pie Viņa ārpus nometnes, Viņa negodu nesdami! 14 Jo mums šeit nav paliekamas pilsētas, bet mēs meklējam nākamo. 15 Nesīsim tad caur Viņu slavas upuri Dievam vienumēr, tas ir, lūpu augli, kas Viņa Vārdu slavē. 16 Neaizmirstiet labu darīt un dāvanas dot, jo tādi upuri Dievam labi patīk. 17 Paklausait saviem vadītājiem un esiet padevīgi, jo viņi ir nomodā par jūsu dvēselēm kā tādi, kam būs jādod atbildība. Lai tie to varētu darīt ar prieku un nevis nopūzdamies, jo tas jums nav derīgi. 18 Lūdziet par mums Dievu! Jo mēs apzināmies, ka mums, kas visās lietās gribam godīgi dzīvot, ir laba sirdsapziņa. 19 Bet sevišķi lūdzu to darīt, lai es jums drīz tiktu atdots. 20 Bet miera Dievs, kas no miroņiem paaugstinājis mūsu Kungu Jēzu, lielo avju ganu, mūžīgās derības asiņu dēļ, 21 Tas lai ikkatrā labā darbā dara jūs spējīgus piepildīt Viņa gribu, jūsos to padarot, kas Viņam labi patīk caur Jēzu Kristu, Viņam lai ir gods mūžu mūžos. Āmen. 22 Bet es jūs, brāļi, lūdzu: panesiet šo pamācības vārdu! Jo es esmu jums īsos vārdos rakstījis. 23 Zinait, ka mūsu brālis Timotejs ir atsvabināts; ar viņu kopā, ja viņš drīz nāk, es jūs redzēšu. 24 Sveicinait visus savus vadītājus un visus svētos! Jūs sveicina itāļi. 25 Žēlastība lai ir ar jums visiem!
