20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13)
The book of Hebrews is more of a sermon than a letter. The preacher/writer is talking about greatness in the Story of God. God has spoken and done things throughout history through the patriarchs, prophets, angelic messengers, and other people of great faith. But He speaks and acts greatest through His Son, Jesus Christ. So, when he gets to the end of this sermon, he does what has often been done: he gives a benediction. He asks for God's ongoing blessing - that He will do in his readers (and by extension, us who believe) what we need and He desires. What we need is a constant reminder of how great and good God is, and a dependence upon His grace and strength, through Christ, to live this life of faith, just as the faithful in chapter 11 have, so that we can finish this race of life, and run into His arms at the finish line. No wonder we preachers so often use this benediction at the funeral service of believers, as they finish their race and enter eternity. May God equip us and work in us today what pleases Him.
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