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Our Response to the God of Peace

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)


Closing the section on the challenge to pray for one another, the author prays for the believers, sharing some powerful theological facts about God in verse 20 and closes with a benediction in verse 21. First, the God believers follow is the God of peace, meaning that He is actively seeking to promote peace within the life of the believers as well as within the world. Second, God the Father, seeing that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was a sufficient and perfect sacrifice for sin, “brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus.” Third, Jesus Christ is “the great Shepherd of the sheep,” who is always present to protect the believers and lead them where they need to go, as seen in John 10:28-29, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Finally, Christ established the new “everlasting covenant” through His blood. There is no need for another covenant; Christ sacrifice was once and for all the provision of salvation to those who believe.


Then, in verse 21, the author prays for the believers to experience their full potential by pursuing God’s will. As the believers allow God to be “working in us what is pleasing in His sight,” they will then respond by doing God’s will, praying to Him to provide and “equip you with everything good to do His will.” As Thomas Lea wrote, “The work of God is necessary to make man’s work a reality. If God produces in us what is pleasing to Him, we will be supremely equipped to do His will.” The believers are able to accomplish this task “through Jesus Christ.” After listing off what the Father and the Son have accomplished and are actively doing in their own life as well as the believers, praise and worship is the immediate response: “to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”


In light of the fact that our God is the God of peace, who’s Son is the great Shepherd of the sheep, always vigilant and leading us, may we pursue God’s will. May we surrender our lives to Him, knowing that He wants what is best for us, transforming us every day to be more like Him. May we pray to Him first to be equipped to do what He wants us to do. Finally, may we glorify Him with our lives, living in worship to Him, for He has saved us.


Blessings,

Isaac De Guzman

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