30 Jun July 2 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

TRAINED BY THE LORD

Hebrews 12:11-13 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”

Training (teaching, instructing) is not always pleasant, says the writer to the Hebrews.  Yet, training is vitally necessary, isn’t it?  Can you imagine raising a child without teaching and instructing it.  It would be like a rudderless ship.  It would be like a house without a solid foundation.  It would have no direction and unprepared for life.

Solomon wrote, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)  St. Paul exhorted the Christians at Colossae, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach (train) and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)  Paul instructed Timothy, “Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)

Teaching, training, educating is not something that is only for children.  It is a life-long need.  It is needed on a daily basis.  So it is with the Lord’s training.  Thus, Jesus instructs you to “study the Scriptures diligently . . .”  He says “ these very Scriptures testify about Me.” And, these Scriptures make you “wise unto your salvation.” (John 5:39) St. Paul encouraged Timothy to continue learning from the Scriptures because they “. . . make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  He went on to say, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  (2 Timothy 3:15-17) Through the Holy Scriptures the Holy Spirit works to give you and then maintain in you faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation.

Prayer:  Lord, keep me steadfast in Your word even to life everlasting.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Almighty God, Your Word is cast Like seed into the ground;

Now let the dew of heav’n descend And righteous fruits abound.

Let not the sly satanic foe This holy seed remove,

But give it root in ev’ry heart To bring forth fruits of love.

Let not the world’s deceitful cares The rising plant destroy,

But let it yield a hundredfold The fruits of peace and joy.

So when the precious seed is sown, Life giving grace bestow

That all whose souls the truth receive Its saving pow’r may know.

(LSB 577)