30 Jun July 11 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

 A KINGDOM THAT IS UNSHAKEABLE

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe . . .”

Daniel prophesied, “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” The angel of God that came to Mary to tell her she was to become the mother of God’s Son, said of Him:  “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:32-33)  The writer to the Hebrews said of Jesus’ reign over His kingdom, “But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8) In the Lord’s Prayer you pray of God’s kingdom, “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.”

On the last day, the day of judgement, all the pagan kingdoms and thrones of the earth will be destroyed.  Their power will end.  Then there will be only one King who will reign with honor and glory for all eternity.  Jesus ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of His Father ruling as King over heaven and earth.  All nations and all people now serve Him.

You, as a believer in Jesus, are a member of His kingdom.  You are a member of His kingdom that will never be shaken. Do you remember these words of Hebrews 2:11, “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”  Through your faith in Him you are, “ . . . a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10) As members of Christ’s kingdom you now worship and serve Almighty God.  You have the mercy and grace of God that empowers you to serve Him.

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, what a privilege it is that by God’s grace and gift of faith in You I now live in Your kingdom.  Praise, honor and glory be to You now and forever.  Amen.

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Does its successive journeys run;

His kingdom stretch from shore to shore Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To Him shall endless prayer be made, And endless praises crown His head;

His name like sweet perfume shall rise With ev’ry morning sacrifice.

People and realms of ev’ry tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song;

And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on His name.

Blessings abound where’er He reigns: The pris’ners leap, unloose their chains,

The weary find eternal rest, And all who suffer want are blest.

Let ev’ry creature rise and bring Honors peculiar to our King;

Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud amen.

(LSB 832)