30 Jun July 22 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

BY GRACE

Hebrews 13:9 “It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace. . . “

St. Paul exhorts, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him,  rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught . . .”  By God’s undeserved love for you He sent His Son Jesus to save you from eternal condemnation.  Because of His grace God gives you the gift of faith by which you believe in His Son and through Him you receive from your heavenly Father forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation.

The writer to the Hebrews delivered today’s Gospel word to Jews who, had by God’s grace come to believe in Jesus, but were constantly under temptation to return to their previous religious beliefs and practices.  The Holy writer wrote to them, it is “. . . by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, slaughtering/sacrificing unblemished lambs, and observing various holy days that they were saved.”  He wrote, “which is of no benefit to those who do so. . .” (Hebrews 13:9)

God “.  . . has saved (you) and called (you) to a holy life—not because of anything (you) have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given (you) in Christ Jesus.” (2  Timothy 1:9) His grace is unlimited.  In His grace He desires to forgive your sins.  Because of His grace and the faith He has given you in Jesus you are free from the control of Satan, your sinful flesh and the world. Through His grace you have His assurance of a heavenly future.  His grace is your source of comfort as you endure the trials and tribulations of this life.

It is out of God’s grace you receive His every blessing! (John 1:16) In His fullness, God is “all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:28) God sent His Son to live in you.  Through the Holy writers you see “. . . His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) “ . . . it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Prayer:  I treasure Your grace, dear heavenly Father and thank You for always loving me in and through Your Son Jesus.  Amen.

Not what these hands have done Can save this guilty soul;

Not what this toiling flesh has borne Can make my spirit whole.

Not what I feel or do Can give me peace with God;

Not all my prayers and sighs and tears Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ, Can ease this weight of sin;

Thy blood alone, O lamb of God, Can give me peace within.

Thy love to me, O God, Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,

Can rid me of tis dark unrest And set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God, To me can pardon speak;

Thy pow’r alone, O Son of God, Can this sore bondage break.

I bless the Christ of God, I rest on love divine,

And with unfalt’ring lip and heart I call this Savior mine.

(LSB 567)