Saturday, July 25, 2026

Opening Scripture

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:6-12

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and mercy, your protection and provision, your comfort and healing. Help me to trust you in all things and orient my life toward you today. May my mind’s attention and heart’s affection be on you. Guide my choices and direct my decisions for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Hebrews 13

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

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.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.

Reflection  

Today, we wrap up our month-long journey through Hebrews. While this book can seem a bit abstract, repetitive, and obscure to our modern, Western, Gentile sensibilities, I hope you have been challenged and informed by these daily readings. At the very least, you should have a much better understanding of God’s comprehensive plan of redemption from the Old to the New Covenant.

In today’s reading, the writer offers specific instructions for living lives that “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” Love one another as family members. Show hospitality to strangers. Remember those in prison. Honor marriage and “keep the marriage bed undefiled.” Avoid sexual immorality. Resist greed. Be content with what you have. Appreciate your spiritual leaders. Don’t be misled by false teaching. Avoid legalism.

It is evident (and not surprising) from the writer’s instructions related to sex and money that the misuse of these gifts is perpetual and universal. Lust and greed have always been familiar and entangling sins. Pride and selfishness are generally at the heart of most evil, and sexual immorality and greed are no exception.

Indeed, the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” and the eighth commandment, “You shall not steal,” indicate how common they are and how seriously God takes them.

As we observed yesterday, our transformation on The Jesus Way starts in the mind. We are fighting a spiritual battle against the forces of evil, and the war takes place in our hearts and minds before it ever manifests in our actions. That includes lust and greed. God wants to help us be holy even as He is holy.

The writer closes with a prayer that “the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Jesus is Lord!

Those of us who have committed our lives to Jesus of Nazareth – receiving His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sin, pledging our allegiance to Him as King and Master, looking forward to His imminent return and eternal reign – are constantly learning more about Him and getting to know Him better.

Hebrews expands our knowledge and understanding of the Person and work of Jesus from the perspective of His fulfillment of the Old Testament. Jesus is a historic figure who transcends human history!

He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His Being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.

He was made a little lower than the angels for a time so that, by the grace of God, He might taste death for everyone before being crowned with glory and honor.

He became flesh and blood and shared completely in our humanity – tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin – so that by His death He might free those held in bondage to sin.

He established Himself as our great High Priest – holy, blameless, and pure, yet able to sympathize with our weakness – forever interceding with the Father on our behalf.

He has entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by His own blood – having obtained eternal redemption, making perfect forever those who are being made holy – and serves as the Mediator of the new covenant.

We are now among the ranks of God’s people throughout the ages who have been redeemed and set free by the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, spur one another on to love and good deeds, and gather regularly for encouragement.

We make every effort to be at peace with everyone and to live holy lives that honor God, full of the fruit of the Spirit. We are thankful and content. We worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

Through Jesus, we continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. May it be so.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!