30 Jun July 15 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

REMEMBER TO CARE FOR THE IMPRISONED AND MISTREATED

Hebrews 13:3 “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.“

At the time Hebrews 13:3 was being written, more and more Christians were being put into prison because they were publicly professing their faith in Jesus Christ.  Persecution touched the lives of Christian families throughout the Roman world.  The holy writer therefore encouraged the Hebrews to whom he was writing to pray and provide the necessities of life to those being persecuted.

Providing food and clothing to family members in the world of that day who were in prison or being mistreated by people in their community, was the only way their basic daily needs were met.  If no one provided them with food and clothing they starved to death or died of exposure.  If no one supported those who lost their personal possessions by confiscation and other forms of thievery they had nothing to support their lives.

The holy writer urges his hearers and readers to remember that Christians are the body of Christ.  He may have had in mind the words of St. Paul, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Through your baptism, you are one body in Christ. You are interdependent with all your fellow believers in Christ.  Persecution, confiscation, abuse by enemies of Christ actually unites you with those who are undergoing such trials.  Jesus taught that even though you may be totally unaware of providing for them, on the last day as you are judged,  “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell You, whatever You did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.’” (Matthew 25:37-40)

Prayer:  O Lord, give me a heart of compassion for those I see or know are under persecution or suffering abuse that I would provide for their needs in Your holy name.  Amen.

Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,

Word made flesh, whose birth among us Hallows all our human race,

You our Head, who, throned in glory, For Your own will ever plead:

Fill us with Your love and pity, Heal our wrongs, and help our need.

As you, Lord, have lived for others, So may we for others live.

Freely have Your gifts been granted; Freely may Your servants give.

Yours the gold and Yours the silver, Yours the wealth of land and sea;

We but stewards of Your bounty held in solemn trust will be.

Come, O Christ, and reign among us, King of love and Prince of Peace;

Hush the storm of strife and passion, Bid its cruel discords cease.

By Your patient years of toiling, By Your silent hours of pain,

Quench our fevered thirst of pleasure, Stem our selfish greed of gain.

Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,

Word made flesh, whose birth among us Hallows all our human race:

By Your praying, by Your willing that Your people should be one,

Grant, O grant our hope’s fruition: Here on earth Your will be done.

(LSB 842)