The most widely shared commemoration across the world, involving more people and more nations than any other holiday celebration is Christmas. It transcends national history, and it goes everywhere where Christianity has ever been. Though it is the most widely celebrated around the world, in many ways it is the least understood. All the holidays and all the celebrations and all the commemorations of people and events across the globe take note of human events, human beings. Christmas commemorates a divine person and a divine event. . .

Like the Prophets of old, God uses individuals for His specific purposes. The Apostle Peter was no different. He was like the unofficial head of the Apostles, probably based on his age. (See John 20: 3, 4, "Another younger Apostle out-ran Peter on Resurrection Sunday, as they ran to the empty tomb.") Both were filled with the Spirit, both wrote short Epistles, but Peter wrote this about Scripture in 2 Peter 1:21: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

As our study in Hebrews concludes in chapter 13:15-25, the author summarizes the Christian life as one of sacrificial praise, continuous obedience and submission to Christ and His leaders, and living with an eternal perspective, always looking toward the "city to come" rather than earthly comforts, concluding with a powerful prayer for God's people to be equipped for His will and a final blessing. Believers offer "sacrifices of praise" (lips confessing God's name) and do good works (like helping the needy) as true worship, while following their spiritual leaders who watch over their souls. The passage emphasizes leaving the "city gate" (symbolizing worldly comfort/Judaism) to follow Christ's reproach and encourages prayer, unity, and joyful perseverance until Christ returns.