Saturday after Misericordias Domini Sunday
Posted on April 29, 2023 by under
Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-21 (NKJV)
13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Devotion
Verse 17 of this passage is also found in the Table of Duties at the end of the Small Catechism. It is among other passages which describe the kind of obedience that Christians owe to their pastors. Obedience to proper authority is a virtue, although our flesh does not like to hear this, and we do not enjoy submitting to other men.
The ultimate master of our lives is the Lord Jesus Christ, whom this passage calls “that great Shepherd of the sheep.” Since Jesus is God, it is obvious that we must obey Him, which includes when He commands us to obey others. Romans 13:1 says, “the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Therefore, obey no man for his own sake. Instead, obey those over you for the Christ’s sake. Obedience to authority is a Christian virtue, which builds peace among men and makes Christians stand out in a world of anarchy.
In our own time we see riots, public destruction of property, and the tearing down of old institutions. There is no respect for authority. True Christians stand out because they seek to preserve the good institutions that are in place and to quietly do their duty. This is out of love for Christ. Much more, then, do Christians honor their pastors and are an example of obedience to God, so that the world, seeing it, might repent.
Prayer: God, Who, by the humiliation of Thy Son, didst raise up the fallen world: Grant unto Thy faithful ones perpetual gladness, and those whom Thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death, do Thou make partakers of eternal joys; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
