Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.
Hebrews 13:22 NIV
I suspect most Christians today find the letter to the Hebrews somewhat confusing. This letter is filled with references to priests, sacrifices, and tabernacles, along with numerous references to the Old Testament. And the author assumed that his readers were familiar with all these things. While that assumption was probably valid for the original audience, it is no longer true for most of us.
But that makes this closing encouragement to bear with the author’s brief word of exhortation even more important. He is encouraging us to consider what he has written. Don’t ignore it because it is hard to understand. And don’t just simply read through it. Instead, invest time in this letter. Seek the Holy Spirit’s help in understanding it and the background it references. And carefully consider what God has to say to you through the author’s words of exhortation. Remember that Hebrews is a part of the inspired Scripture and is useful for your development as a believer (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
What the author of Hebrews says here also applies to the rest of the Scripture. Read it regularly, study it thoughtfully, and meditate on its message. God will speak to you through the pages of the Bible if you have ears to hear what he is saying. The more effort you invest in the Scripture, seeking understanding and obeying its instruction, the greater the reward: being drawn closer to God, gaining a deeper understanding of what he is doing in his creation and the church, and becoming better equipped to serve in his kingdom.
