AtACrossroads.net Weekly Bible Reading Devotional
Day 1 – Read Hebrews 13:1-6
Verses 1-5 carry on the coaching and teaching of obeying Jesus’ commands that we found in chapter 12. This is again coming from the perspective of the people of faith who have gone before us, many of them martyrs, of chapter 11, those who have died and now speak from an eternal perspective: show hospitality, visit those in prison, save sex for marriage, keep sex within marriage, do not love money, be content! These are the things that matter. These are the things that advance God’s Kingdom. Verses 5-6 then wrap up the reason why we can live this way. The world looks for security, value, and identity in extramarital sex, money, power, selfishness, etc., where we have our security and freedom from worry and fear in the fact that God will never leave us! Satan can take everything from us, but not our salvation in God! What an assuring foundation to our lives. So we can live with reckless abandon for Jesus, because we know God will always be with us.
Day 2– Read Deuteronomy 31:1-8; Joshua 1:1-9
These are the verses quoted in Hebrews 13:5-6 from yesterday. Moses is dying and Joshua is being transitioned to become Israel’s leader as they head into the Promised Land. Imagine the fear and worry of leading the Israelites and succeeding Moses! God reminds Joshua repeatedly he does not have to worry or be afraid because God is with him. Whatever hard times you’re going through, allow these same promises from God to sink deep into your soul.
Day 3 – Read Hebrews 13:7-25
The author of Hebrews finishes out the book by reminding us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This means that the struggles we are going through have been gone through by many in the past, and Jesus was faithful then and he is surely faithful now to you as well! The book of Hebrews is meant to encourage persecuted Christians to press on and persevere. Be reminded of how faithful God has been to so many who have gone before you, be reminded of the gift of salvation and reconciliation He has bought for you, look forward to heaven (“the city that is to come” in v.14), shed off the sins that trip you up, and rest in God’s faithfulness today.
Day 4 – Read Isaiah 41
In a very tumultuous time in Israel’s history, God tells his people how strong he is, how they don’t need to fear, and how no idols (all the sinful things we chase after) will deliver them. Rest in knowing God is stronger than anything in this world and is with you!
Day 5 & bonus reading – Read the Book of Esther
Esther and Mordecai show incredible courage, founded in their faith in God’s strength and sovereignty, in the face of circumstances that they were very legitimately afraid of. You simply didn’t confront the king about anything in this culture, as he could have you killed at a moment’s notice for doing so.
More technical difficulties with our video recording, but here is a good audio file for now and I should be able to get a good video up soon.
He is:
Author of Beyond the Battle: A man's guide to his identity in Christ in an oversexualized world
Host of the The Flip Side Podcast
Join an online men's small group led by Noah and team at BeyondTheBattle.net
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