Day 348
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| Jesus Christ is the Light; Walk in the Light! |
Scripture
Observation
The letter to the Hebrews closes with an appeal to approach God by the new and living way that Jesus made possible through his death. Writing to an audience whose actions were being shaped by pressure from the world rather than promises from God, the author of Hebrews urges the kind of faith-inspired walk that characterized so many Old Testament heroes and heroines. These men and women were so convinced of God's faithfulness that they ordered their lives according to his Word. Their Commendable example is worth following!
Application
Some heroes gain their reputation by the life they live; others by the death they die.
Down through the centuries the heroes of the church have been those who announced their allegiance to Christ and refused to be moved—regardless of the consequences. One such hero is Polycarp, disciple of the apostle John, whose long life came to an end when he would not betray his Lord. Asked one last time to disavow his Christ, the old man replied, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me?" For his unflinching devotion, Polycarp was burned at the stake.
Times of persecution—whether in the first century or the twenty-first—only serve to confirm that "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Opposing the gospel has never been an effective way to keep it from spreading. It only causes others to see that a faith worth dying for must also be a faith worth living for.
Write a short obituary about your life as you'd want it to appear in Hebrews 11: "By faith as a Christian . . . . " Then, with God's help, make today the yesterday that will encourage another Christian tomorrow.
Prayer
We want to thank you, Lord, for giving us an example in your Word of how we ought to pray. As we repent and obey your Word our faith is inspired by your promise of eternity and your guidance while on earth. We pray everywhere to preserve the spirit of prayer in places of business, in our dealings with people and in the privacy of our home. The model prayer of our Lord is the universal prayer because it is adapted to all people everywhere and in all times of need. Help us, Lord, to encourage all that we encounter who are in need of your salvation to pray to our Father who art in Heaven . . . In your precious name, Jesus Christ, we pray! Amen!
© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020
