Saturday after Quasi modo geniti Sunday
Posted on April 13, 2024 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
In a world that seems to take a perverse glee in how rapidly “everything” is “changing,” it is good to have things that we can rely on not changing. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” His Word has not changed, and will not. His will and intention towards us has not changed—He still wants all men to come to repentance and believe in Him.
The hope that we long for as Christians is not necessarily a secure and peaceful life in this world. Some of us may be blessed in that regard, but God has not promised that to us. If Jesus Himself suffered outside the gates of Jerusalem, we, as His followers, should not also be ashamed of the world’s reproach. While we may have great blessings in this world, we must understand that they may not last, and that they must not become stumbling blocks for us as we await our final redemption. Rather, we look forward to the New Jerusalem that will be established only when Christ returns in glory to judge the living and the dead, and takes us to be with Him forever.
Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord’s Resurrection, may, by the help of Thy grace, bring forth the fruits thereof in our life and conversation; 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.
