30 Jun July 27 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR AND ALL PASTORS

Hebrews 13:18-19 “Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.”

Today’s devotional verses end a long series of instructions from the holy writer of the sermon to the Hebrews and to you and all Christians.  With the plural pronoun in verse 18, this last instruction expands the request to support your personal pastor (verse 17) to include praying not only for him, but for all pastors.  Since the whole Church, all true believers in Christ, are the church you are not to be concerned only for your pastor but for all the pastors of the church.

The holy writer, thought to be a pastor himself, indicates that he carries out his duties as a pastor with a “clear (good) conscience” and “desire(s) to live honorably in every way.”  He can say this because he also, like the members of his congregation, has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus as he wrote in Hebrews 9:14, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

With a clear (good) conscience, forgiven of all his sins, he is free to speak God’s word in its truth and purity.  There are no obstacles that can impede his ministry.  He can speak with conviction because he also has received the gift of faith in Jesus, forgiveness of his sins and is confident he has been called through the power of the Holy Spirit to minister to them (his congregation.)

Their pastor requests their prayers for God to continue to bless him in his own personal spiritual life and also all of his fellow pastors.  Today’s devotional verse is an encouragement for you to also heed this encouragement, to lift up your pastor and all pastors in your daily prayers asking God to fill their hearts with His grace, forgiveness and confidence in His Word and the Sacraments as his pastoral tools to meet any and all needs you will have.

Prayer:  Lord, hear my prayers for my pastor and all pastors that you will bless them in their faith and trust in you and give them confidence to serve as pastor to Your glory and for the good of all who receive their ministry.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Send, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit  On Your servant now, we pray;

Let him prove a faithful shepherd  That no lamb be led astray.

Your pure teaching to proclaim, To extol Your holy name.

And to feed Your lambs, dear Savior, Make his aim and sole endeavor.

You, O Lord, Yourself have called him For Your precious lambs to care;

But to prosper in his calling, He the Sprite’s gifts must share.

Give him wisdom from above, Fill his heart with holy love;

In his weakness, Lord, be near him, In his prayers, Good Shepherd, hear him.

Help, Lord Jesus, help him nourish All our children with Your Word

That in fervent love they serve You Till in heav’n their song is heard;

Bondless blessings, Lord, bestow On his faithful toil below.

Till by grace to him be given His reward, the crown of heaven.

(LSB 681)