June 26 – Daily Devotional

31 May June 26 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

BY FAITH – PART IX

Hebrews 11:20-26 “By faith Isaac. . .Jacob. . . Joseph. . . Moses’ parents. . . Moses . . .  regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

The Patriarchs of the Old Testament lived by faith in Yahweh and in His promises.  Moses, taken into the family of Pharoah through Pharoah’s daughter’s compassion, had all the rights and privileges of Egypt’s ruling family.  He rejected all he could have had as the adopted son of the Pharoah’s daughter, but he held onto his faith roots as a child of Yahweh.

The writer to the Hebrews wrote in chapter 11:26, “Moses . . .regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value that the treasures of Egypt . . .”  The typical person on the street then as would be true today most likely was amazed of the choice that Moses made.  The only explanation for Moses’ choice was, as the holy writer says, he walked by faith in Yahweh rather than social status or worldly wealth.

The faith you have “lives in and from the Gospel. . .”  In Matthew 9:1-8 there is an account of a paralytic who was lowered through a hole in a roof to the floor of a house “smack dab in front of Jesus.”  He offered Jesus nothing nor did he in any way justify himself before Jesus.  He lay passively on the bed lowered through the roof totally dependent upon Jesus.  He did nothing!  Jesus did it all.  Jesus spoke His life saving, living word to the paralytic and told him to take up his bed and walk . . .”  (source for this paragraph is the Large Catechism, page 709)

By Jesus’ grace and gift of faith the paralytic got up, picked up his bed and walked out of that home.  By that same grace and faith Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses lived their lives totally dependent upon God.  By that same grace and faith so do you.  Through your baptism the Holy Spirit worked that faith in your heart.  Daily, the Holy Spirit continues to renew and strengthen your faith through your baptism.  It is by the power of the Gospel you receive faith in Jesus to accept God’s forgiveness and promise of eternal life and salvation.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, renew and strengthen my faith in Jesus by which to walk my earthly journey.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless;

My soul, believe and doubt it not.

Why stagger at this word of promise?

Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?

No! then this word must true remain;

By grace you too will life obtain.

By grace! None dare lay claim to merit,

Our works and conduct have no worth.

God in His love sent our Redeemer, Chrit Jesus, to this sinful earth;

His death did for our sins atone,

And we are saved by grace alone.

By grace God’s Son, our only Savior,

Came down to earth to bear our sin.

Was it because of your own merit

That Jesus died your soul to win?

No, it was grace, and grace alone,

That brought Him from His heavn’ly throne.

By grace! This ground of faith is certain;

As long as God is true, it stands.

What saints have penned by inspiration,

What in His Word our God commands,

Our faith in what our God has done

Depends on grace— grace through His Son.

By grace to timid hearts that tremble,

In tribulation’s furnace tried.

By grace, in spite of fear and trouble,

The Father’s heart is open wide

Where could I help and strength secure

If grace were not my anchor sure?

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;

In Jesus’ promise I rejoice;

For though I know my heart’s condition,

I also know my Savior’s voice.

My heart is glad, all grief has flown

Since I am saved by grace alone.

(LSB 566)