30 Jun July 19 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

GOD’S WORD IS TAUGHT AND CAUGHT

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

A paraphrase of Hebrews 13:7 could be something like this:  “Remember, recall, think about again the word of God your pastors and teachers taught you.”  You have been blessed by God over your lifetime to hear His word from the lips of your pastor through the countless sermons you have heard him preach.  You have perhaps also attended a goodly number of Bible classes that he or others have taught.  In both settings, the word of God, the Holy Scriptures were the source for their teaching and preaching.

Your pastor and Christian teachers also taught you precious truths through the way they counseled, prayed, and lived their personal lives.  Yes, the writer to the Hebrews says that it is good to not only remember God’s word they taught you but also what you learned by observing how they lived their personal life.

You have been blessed in your spiritual journey through the truths of God’s word given to you by your pastor(s) and Christian teacher(s) but also through the witness they have given you through how they loved you, prayed in your behalf, counseled, and encouraged you.  Imagine if your pastor or Christian teacher used God’s name in vain around you.  Or, what would you have thought if your pastor taught you stealing was wrong and he was arrested by the police for theft?  Through what they say and do, their Christ-like example, their preaching and teaching is reinforced.

God speaks to you through His word being taught to you.  But God also teaches you by you learning Of His love through your experiencing the unconditional love of your pastor or fellow Christians.  Watch carefully, observe closely, give serious consideration to how your spiritual mentors live their lives noting how God’s word has affected their thoughts, words, and lives.

The Holy Spirit works faith in you to believe in Jesus through God’s spoken Word and His Word lived out by believers in their daily lives.  Think of the person in your congregation who is the first to quietly assist a fellow struggling member. John writes, “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:9)  Through the loving actions of Christians, hearts of unbelievers are softened and the Holy Spirit opens their hearts with the Gospel to the unconditional love of God for them in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the many faithful Christians from whom you have permitted me to learn of Your love for me. Amen.

Blest be the tie that binds, Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears and hopes our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear,

And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.

When here our pathways part, We suffer bitter pain;

Yet, one in Christ and one in heart, We hope to meet again.

From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall be free

And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.

(LSB 649)