最后祝福
希伯来书十三章15至25节
15我们应当靠着耶稣，常常以颂赞为祭献给神，这就是那承认主名之人嘴唇的果子。
16只是不可忘记行善和捐输的事；因为这样的祭，是神所喜悦的。
17你们要依从那些引导你们的，且要顺服；因他们为你们的灵魂时刻儆醒，好像那将来交账的人。你们要使他们交的时候有快乐，不至忧愁；若忧愁就与你们无益了。
18请你们为我们祷告，因我们自觉良心无亏，愿意凡事按正道而行。
19我更求你们为我祷告，使我快些回到你们那里去。
20但愿赐平安的神，就是那凭永约之血、使群羊的大牧人─我主耶稣从死里复活的神，
21在各样善事上成全你们，叫你们遵行他的旨意；又借着耶稣基督在你们心里行他所喜悦的事。愿荣耀归给他，直到永永远远。阿们！
22弟兄们，我略略写信给你们，望你们听我劝勉的话。
23你们该知道，我们的兄弟提摩太已经释放了；他若快来，我必同他去见你们。
24请你们问引导你们的诸位和众圣徒安。从义大利来的人也问你们安。
25愿恩惠常与你们众人同在。阿们！
信息分享
他的结束祷告和祝福，可说是新约书信中，其中一篇最伟大的祷文，我们在当中可见到三个宝贵的真理：
神已经为我们成就的事──使耶稣从死里复活(20节)。
神期望为我们成就的事──在各样善事上成全你们(21节)。
神期望看见我们成就的事──行祂所喜悦的事(21节)。
上述所描述的神，究竟是怎样的一位神呢？祂乃是一个赐平安的神。对任何一位基督徒而言，这点实在非常宝贵。每个人的内心都渴望得到一种平和、宁静、圆满、和真正永存的安全感。
神既是一位赐平安的神，那么，当神居住在我的心里，我的内心便不应再被各种纷乱所困扰。我们为将来忧虑？不必了，因为神掌管明天。我们害怕孤单？不用了，因为神永远是我们的朋友。因此，当我们有了神，我们的内心便得着平安。
留意作者怎样称呼基督。他称祂是「群羊的大牧人」。谁人像我们的大牧人那样，对我们的看顾那样无微不至？谁愿意为祂的羊舍命？谁时刻地看顾着我们？那必定是彼得所称的「大牧人」了。我们要切记，牧人比群羊更清楚知道牠们的需要，他会预先带领牠们寻找食物、水源和避开危险。
这一切促使我们更深的信靠神。当我们愿意信靠神和听从祂的话语而行，神就可以在我们里面成就祂的旨意──就是使我们更像祂的儿子，并最终得以进到祂的面前。
领受神的祝福：
愿恩惠常与你们众人同在。阿们。
CLOSING BLESSINGS
Hebrews 13:15-25
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.
19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.
23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.
24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
Message
In the book of Hebrews the writer has been appealing to his readers to believe, to accept, to act, to draw near, to go on, to run and to stand. He can say no more. He has made a final application in verses 9-16 and now he must leave them with the Lord and that is what he does.
Here is his final prayer and benediction. It is one of the greatest prayers in any of the epistles. Notice three wonderful statements:
What God has done- raised Jesus from the dead (v. 20).
What God wants to do- make you perfect ... (v. 21).
What God will then see- you will be pleasing in his sight (v. 21).
What kind of a God wants to do all this? The God of Peace. Isn't that a beautiful name? This is one of the greatest names for God and one that means so much to the believer. Every human heart longs for peace. They may call it satisfaction or fulfilment or security but the deep longing in every heart is for a deep abiding peace.
His name tells us that all the things that disturb us should have no place in the heart where God dwells. We are afraid of the future. Why? God knows the future. We are afraid we might lose our friends. But God is the greatest friend of all. Having this God, we can have his peace in our hearts too.
Notice also the name given to Christ. 'That Great Shepherd of the sheep.' Who can care for us like our Shepherd? Who was willing even to give his life for the sheep? Who is constantly watching over us now? Who is coming again? Peter says it is our 'Chief Shepherd'. Remember the shepherd knows the needs of the sheep even before they do.
All of this brings us again to the place of faith. As we trust God and act accordingly, God is able to work out his will in us- that is to make us like his Son and finally to receive us into his presence.
READ THOSE CLOSING WORDS AGAIN:
Greet all your leaders and saints. Grace be with you all. Amen.