The Saturday after the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on November 23, 2024 by under
Scripture: Hebrews 10:26-31 (NKJV)
10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Devotion
Today’s reading is a terrifying warning for us if we return to, and persevere in, willfully sinning without repentance—that is, knowing that something is sinful, that we should not be doing it, and proceeding with it anyway, and do not repent. The author of the epistle calls this trampling the Son of God underfoot and insulting the Spirit of grace. May we never be found guilty of this!
We rightly and frequently preach God’s grace and His mercy. We do this by His command. But in preaching the full counsel of God, we must also acknowledge that it is possible for us to reject God’s grace, to turn our backs on Him and His mercy. When that has happened we should not look for or expect mercy. But if we are concerned that we have done this, it is likely that we have not, for the truly impenitent will not consider trampling the Son of God underfoot to be a serious matter. So let us carefully examine ourselves, to see if there is anything else for which we should repent. Staying close to God in Word and Sacrament is the best protection from this kind of fate. And let us watch out for each other and encourage each other not to fall into these kinds of sins.
Collect: O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Thy Holy Spirit, that being ever mindful of the end of all things, and the day of Thy just judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here, and dwell with Thee forever hereafter; through 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.
