“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” – Hebrews 13:3

Maryam and Marziyeh are two young Iranian women who operated a Bible smuggling operation in Tehran for years. These brave Christian women distributed thousands of Bibles until police discovered what they were doing and arrested them. Not long after their arrest, they began to receive letters – more than 7,500 of them sent from all over the world. Thousands of men, women, and children each took a few minutes to write words of encouragement.  

Maryam and Marziyeh said that the guards treated them more humanely as soon as the letters began to arrive. In addition, it greatly encouraged them to know that believers worldwide were “standing with us in the battle, and [letting us] know we were not alone.”

Maryam and Marziyeh were released in November 2008.

Throughout the world, there are still men and women imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, pray for those in Iran and ask the Lord to comfort them and free them from their prison.

“Those that are themselves at liberty must sympathize with those that are in bonds and adversity as if they were bound with them in the same chain: they must feel the sufferings of their brethren.” – Matthew Henry

God’s Word: “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'” – Matthew 25:36

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS    †

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11

Oswald Sanders was a general director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship in the 1950s and 1960s. He authored more than forty books on the Christian life. In his book “My Utmost For His Highest”, Sanders wrote:

“To be so much in contact with God that you never need to ask Him to show you His will is to be nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you are rightly related to God, it is a life of freedom and freedom and delight, you are God’s will, and all your common sense decisions are His will for you unless He checks. You decide things in perfect delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will always check; when He checks, stop at once.”

Discipline is never pleasant, but it is necessary to become more like Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise Jesus for the discipline that has come into your life and seek to learn from it and walk closer to the Lord.

“Discipline is the secret to godliness. You must learn to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” – Jay Adams

God’s Word: “Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law” – Psalm 94:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

In 1914, Lord Carnarvon received the concession to dig in the Valley of the Kings. Archeologist Howard Carter led the work, undertaking a systematic search for any tombs missed by previous expeditions, in particular that of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. However, the First World War interrupted the excavation work, only resuming it towards the end of 1917.

In 1922, after finding little, Carnarvon decided this would be the last year of expeditions. In November, a young water boy stumbled on a stone that turned out to be the top of a flight of steps cut into the bedrock. Carter began digging and three weeks later he opened a chamber.

“Can you see anything?” his assistant asked as Carter’s eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness. Carter could see well enough, but he had difficulty speaking because of the dazzling array of treasure spread out before him. For more than two thousand years, tourists, grave robbers, and archaeologists had searched for the burial places of Egypt’s Pharaohs. Armed with only a few scraps of evidence, British archaeologist Howard Carter’s search, after many years, seemed doomed to failure. But, Carter pressed through and finally unlocked an ancient Egyptian tomb. No one in the modern world had ever seen anything like it. The king’s embalmed body lay within a nest of three coffins, the inner one of solid gold. On the king’s head was a magnificent golden portrait mask and numerous pieces of jewelry lay on the body and in its wrappings. Other rooms were crammed with statues, a chariot, weapons, chests, vases, daggers, jewels, and a throne. It was the priceless tomb and treasure of King Tutankhamun, who reigned from 1352 to 1343 BC. It was 3265 years later, on 26 November 1922 that Carter made this discovery. Howard Carter made the world’s most exciting archaeological find because he did not give up seeking. He pressed through. He persevered. 

The Lord has called us to follow Him. Persevere in your calling. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His perseverance to the Cross and pray for His strength to continue following Him through all difficulties.

“Our motto must continue to be perseverance. And ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success.” – William Wilberforce

God’s Word: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” – Hebrews 10:36

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.” – Hebrews 11:13

Missionary Avery T. Willis, Jr. said: “I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and down with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need prominence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me - my banner will be clear.”

In all you do, live by faith in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, let Christ lead you.

“Faith is nothing but believing what God promises or says.” – Martin Luther

God’s Word: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” – Hebrews 11:39

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

In his book “Discover Your True Potential”, R. Ian Seymour writes: “Do you know how they teach dolphins to jump high out of the water and over a rope? The trainers start by putting the rope below the surface of the water and then every time the dolphin swims over the rope it gets rewarded, but every time it swims under the rope it gets nada, zilch. Of course, the dolphin soon learns to go over the rope every time and it continues to do this as the rope is gradually lifted higher and higher out of the water. The trainers build up the dolphin’s belief system; they encourage them to overcome any self-imposed limitations and to keep climbing higher.”

Are you spurring others to love and good deeds? Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can stimulate others to love and good deeds.

“Let us go out of ourselves as soon as we can, and find our blessings in blessing one another.” – A.B. Simpson

God’s Word: “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” – Acts 2:42

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23

An enthusiastic believer in Christ, Dan Richardson, lost his battle with cancer more than 20 years ago. But his life demonstrated that even though this dreaded disease may destroy the physical body, the spirit can remain triumphant. This poem was distributed at his memorial service and it has brought hope to many:

“Cancer is so limited . . . It cannot cripple love, it cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith, it cannot eat away peace, It cannot destroy confidence, it cannot kill friendship, It cannot shut out memories, it cannot silence courage, It cannot invade the soul, it cannot reduce eternal life, It cannot quench the Spirit, It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.”

In Jesus Christ, we have eternal hope. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that He is our Hope.  

“One day we will meet beside the river and our Lord will dry every tear. For now, we must live in the joy of that promise and recall that for every generation life is hard, but God is faithful.” – Bodie Thoene

God’s Word: “But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” – Colossians 1:22-23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” – Hebrews 8:13

Beginning in 1784, first Spain and then Mexico carved the Southwest into vast tracts of land, called ranchos that authorities used to reward California's leading citizens and soldiers. These lucky rancheros then became virtual princes, ruling over their fiefs from an adobe ranch house.

After California became a territory of the United States in 1847, many grantees struggled to hold on to these ranchos as U.S. tax law and a cumbersome title-confirmation process forced them to sell or mortgage their vast estates.

At The Sherman Library in Corona del Mar, California, documents for Rancho Arroyo Seco in Sacramento County, California are stored. These faded land grants are no longer valid. The charters to this rancho were replaced with new United States land titles. 

Old, fragile covenants have disappeared and are replaced by the “new” living and the eternal covenant we have in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that the old covenant has faded and we have a vibrant new life found in Jesus.

“It is a new heart-righteousness which the prophets foresaw as one of the blessings of the Messianic age. ‘I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts.’ God promised to Jeremiah. How would he do it? He told Ezekiel ‘I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes.’” – John Stott

God’s Word: “In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’” – 1 Corinthians 11:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †

“But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.” – Hebrews 8:6

The activity of mediation appeared in ancient times. The practice developed in Ancient Greece (which knew the non-marital mediator as a proxenetas), then in Roman civilization. Roman law recognized mediation and called mediators by a variety of names, including internuncius, medium, intercessor, philantropus, interpolator, conciliator, interlocutor, interpres, and finally mediator.

Following a three year war against Rome, Queen Amanirenas of the Kushites sent mediators to Augustus, who was in Samos, and in the year 21/20 BC, a peace treaty was concluded. The treaty was strikingly favorable to the Kushites having the Romans evacuate a 30-mile strip of land and the Kushites were exempted from having to pay tribute to the Emperor. On the other hand, the Romans continued to occupy a 12-mile military zone.

Now mediation is a form of professional service, and mediators are professionally trained for mediation.

Jesus Christ is the superior mediator of all time. He was able to successfully mediate the difference between sinful man and Holy God by giving His life as a Holy Sacrifice. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He is our mediator.

“Christ’s work as Mediator is unique; it was to restore us to divine favor and to make us sons of God” – John Calvin

God’s Word: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” – 1 Timothy 2:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.” – Hebrews 7:23-24

San Miguel Chapel is the oldest church built in the United States part of whose original walls are still standing and which is still used regularly for religious services. It is the centerpiece of El Barrio de Analco National Register Historic District in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Its 1610 rectangular footprint was typical of the first stage of Franciscan frontier churches.

The adobe church was constructed under the direction of Franciscan friars to serve a small congregation of soldiers, laborers, and Indians who lived in the Barrio de Analco. It was partially destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The present building dates from 1710, although it has undergone significant structural changes.

Though it has had worship services for more than 400 years, the small Chapel has had countless priests lead those worship services.

We have a permanent Priest, Pastor and Friend in Jesus Christ. His ministry is eternal. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He has a permanent priesthood.

“There can be no vacancy in this (Christ’s) priesthood, no hour nor moment in which the people are without a priest to negotiate their spiritual concerns in heaven. Such a vacancy might be very dangerous and prejudicial to them; but this is their safety and happiness, that this ever-living high priest is able to save to the utmost—in all times, in all cases, in every juncture—all who come to God by him” – Matthew Henry

God’s Word: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain” – Hebrews 6:19

SY Aurora was a 580-ton steam yacht built in Dundee, Scotland in 1876. Her primary use was whaling in the northern seas, and she was built sturdily enough to withstand the heavy weather and ice that would be encountered there. That strength proved useful for Antarctic exploration as well and between 1911 and 1917 she made five trips to the continent, both for exploration and rescue missions.

It is remembered today for losing its anchor and drifting in the Antarctica Sea. The ship had 18 men aboard from the Ross Sea party of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. In May 1915, while in anchorage in McMurdo Sound, a gale occurred breaking the anchors and causing the ship, encased in an icepack, to drift for 312 days.

In February 1916 the ice broke up, and a month later the ship was free. It was able to transit to New Zealand for repairs.

Jesus Christ is an anchor that holds us when the most violent of storms in life hit us. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that you can put all your hope in Him and Christ is an anchor that can hold.

“The anchor holds, Though the ship is battered, The anchor holds, Though the sails are torn, I have fallen on my knees, As I faced the raging seas, The anchor holds, In spite of the storm” – Ray Boltz

God’s Word: “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” – Hebrews 6:15

In 1897, Pearl Wait wore several hats. He was a construction worker who dabbled in patent medicines and sold his ailment remedies door-to-door. In the midst of his tinkering, he hit upon the idea of mixing fruit flavoring with granulated gelatin. His wife named it ‘Jell-O’ and Wait had one more product to peddle. Unfortunately, sales weren’t as strong as he’d hoped, so in 1899, Pearl Wait sold his Jell-O rights to Orator Woodward for $450. Woodward knew the value of marketing so within just eight brief years, Wait’s neighbor turned a $450 investment into a $1 million business. Today, not a single relative of Pearl Wait receives royalties from the 1.1 million boxes of Jell-O that are sold each day. Why? Because Pearl Wait just couldn’t wait!

The Lord desires that we develop the characteristics of patience and dependence on Him. Today in prayer, confess any impatience you may have and patiently wait on Jesus.

“There is no patience equal to the patience of God.” – Oswald Chambers

God’s Word: “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” – Colossians 3:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” – Hebrews 5:12

Mary Walker was one of the last surviving American former enslaved persons when she died in 1969. She was born in Union Springs, Alabama in 1848. She was freed from slavery when she was 15 in 1863. She married and had her first child by age 20. In 1917, she moved with her family to Chattanooga, Tennessee where she cooked, cleaned, provided childcare, and sold sandwiches to support her local church.

It was then, sitting in her Retirement Home that she decided to learn to read. She studied and studied, and was finally able to read the signs all over the city. The squiggles came to life. She then preached at her church about how you are never too old to learn something new.

The Lord desires us not only to follow Him but also to teach others. Are you teaching others how to grow deeper with Christ? Today in prayer, thank the Lord that we are never too old to begin teaching others about the love of Jesus Christ.

“I touch the future. I teach.” – Christina McAuliffe

God’s Word: “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God” – Hebrews 6:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” – Hebrews 5:7-8

Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, the Vicomte of Turenne, was one of the greatest military commanders during the reign of French King Louis XIV. Beginning his military career in the Thirty Years’ War, he subsequently commanded the royal armies in the civil war of the Fronde, in the French invasion of the Spanish Netherlands, and in the third Dutch War. More than a century later, Napoleon deemed him history’s greatest military leader.

One time when the Vicomte de Turenne marched into battle ahead of his troops, he said the following: “I CONDUCT myself like a brave man, but all the time I'm afraid. I don't give in to the fear, but say to my body, 'Tremble, old carcass, but walk!'  And my body walks.”

Even when we are afraid, we need to be obedient to the Lord. Today in prayer, confess any sin of disobedience and seek to follow Christ in all that you do.

“Our gratitude to God can be expressed only in loving, humble obedience to his will.” – Batsell Barrett Baxter

God’s Word: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

In his book, “An Unhurried Life”, Alan Fadling describes one of our greatest temptations in the modern age: hurry:

“Jesus’ unhurried pace also stands in stark contrast to our twenty-first-century pace. Consider, for example, that not many of my friends in vocational ministry waited until they were thirty to get started (Lk 3:23). And to my knowledge, none of them began their ministry with forty days in the wilderness (Lk 4:1-2). The Spirit’s leading of Jesus was unhurried. What happened during that wilderness stay? Jesus fasted and he faced temptations orchestrated by the devil. It strikes me that the essence of these temptations was to provoke Jesus to hurry to get for himself what the Father had promised to provide, but in his good timing.” Fadling continues: “I believe that modeling our life according to the unhurried pace of Jesus’ life and ministry could be a healing and empowering vision for contemporary Christians. Yet many of us measure our faithfulness to God by how many tasks we get done for him or how many meetings we attend to plan his kingdom work. As glad as he is for our service, I believe he is even more pleased when we give him our attention and our friendship.”

In Christ we can have victory over every temptation. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that in this life, we can always face temptation with Jesus and in His power we can overcome it.

“Temptation is not meant to make us fail; it is meant to confront us with a situation out of which we emerge stronger than we are.” – William Barclay

God’s Word: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12

In 1944, imprisoned by the Nazis in Ravensbrück, Corrie ten Boom and the other women in her barracks regularly gathered to covertly read from a smuggled Bible. “The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God,” ten Boom wrote in The Hiding Place. They’d crowd around the Bible “like waifs clustered around a blazing fire … holding out our hearts to its warmth and light.”

Though ten Boom had believed and loved the Bible throughout her life, in the brutal conditions of a concentration camp—enduring daily threats and violence, surrounded by evil and death—God’s Word spoke to her with a new potency. “Sometimes I would slip the Bible from its little sack with hands that shook, so mysterious had it become to me,” she said. It was as if “it was new; it had just been written. I marveled sometimes that the ink was dry.”

The words of the Bible can change our lives. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for His Word and pray that His Word will change you to be more like Him.

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens through the years.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” – 1 Peter 1:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” – Hebrews 3:13

In 1951, Bette Nesmith was a single parent with a nine-year old son. She worked in a Dallas Bank and she seemed rather average with no particular promise for big things. She was glad to have the secretarial job – $300 a month was very good at the time – but she did have a problem: how to correct the errors she made with her new electric typewriter. Nesmith had been a freelance artist, and artists never correct by erasing, they simply paint over the error. So she concocted a fluid that she could use to paint over her typing errors.  Before long all the secretaries in the building were using what she then called “Mistake Out.”

An office supply dealer encouraged her to manufacture the paint, but marketing agencies weren’t impressed. But the secretaries continued to like the product, so Bette’s kitchen became her first manufacturing facility. Orders began to trickle in, and she hired a college student to help her sell the product.

It took a couple of years and a lot of traveling to market what she now called “Liquid Paper”.

When she sold the company in 1979, the tiny white bottles were earning $3.5 million annually and Gillette paid $47.5 million to Bette for her invention.

As Christians, we need to always encourage others to grow in the love of Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for the encouragement you have received in your life and seek to be an encouragement to others.

“Encouragement is food for the heart, and every heart is a hungry heart.” – Pat Morley

God’s Word: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” – Hebrews 3:1

Cornelius "Neal" Plantinga Jr. is an American theologian and author. He most notably served as president of Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 2002 through 2011.

In his book “Pray the Lord My Mind to Keep,” Dr. Plantinga: “To love God intellectually is to become a student of God—a student who really takes an interest in God. Have you ever noticed that a fair number of Christians are not particularly interested in God? Some of them are ministers. These are people who don’t ask about God, don’t talk about God, and maybe don’t even think about God unless they really have to. Their interest in God seems merely professional. Isn’t this strange? Shouldn’t we be somewhat preoccupied with God? Lovers get preoccupied with their beloved, they notice things about the one they love.”  

In this life, we need to constantly fix our eyes upon Jesus to show us His way. Today in prayer, fix your thoughts upon Jesus and seek to follow Him every step of your life.

“God’s purpose for my life is to increasingly grow in my personal knowledge of God as I follow Him in a life of faith. And then to make Him known to others.” – Anne Graham Lotz

God’s Word: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †

“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” – Hebrews 2:17-18

In July 2022, Clay Petty, a 53-year-old man from Utah, died after he attempted to save a person from drowning in the Colorado River. 

According to Utah's Grand County Sheriff's Office, Petty’s body was found more than a mile from where he went missing two days earlier along the riverbank.

Before his disappearance, Petty had "attempted to help someone across the river" but then he was "swept downstream," the sheriff said.

Investigators believe Petty lost his footing while trying to save a 63-year-old woman from drowning.

Tenika Dawn, a close family member, said: “I just can’t imagine, I can’t imagine him not being here anymore.” Saying he died a hero, Dawn stated: “I could see him totally, you know, throwing himself into a disaster scenario to save someone else from it. That’s Clay. That’s who he was.”

Before His birth, the Lord had a rescue plan. He would come to earth and die for our sins. Today in prayer, praise Jesus for His love and thank Him for His death on the Cross for you.

“If the death of Christ on the cross is the true meaning of the Incarnation, then there is no gospel without the cross. Christmas by itself is no gospel. The life of Christ is no gospel. Even the resurrection, important as it is in the total scheme of things, is no gospel by itself. For the good news is not just that God became man, nor that God has spoken to reveal a proper way of life for us, or even that death, the great enemy, is conquered. Rather, the good news is that sin has been dealt with (of which the resurrection is a proof); that Jesus has suffered its penalty for us as our representative, so that we might never have to suffer it; and that therefore all who believe in him can look forward to heaven.” - James Montgomery Boice

God’s Word: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †

“You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.” – Hebrews 2:7-8

Franz Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 2 December 1848 until his death on 21 November 1916. He was the longest-reigning ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In December 1848, Franz Joseph's uncle Emperor Ferdinand abdicated the throne and Franz Joseph was declared emperor.

His reign included the settling of the Austro-Prussian War, granting greater autonomy to Hungary, and a span of 45 years of peace.

He personally suffered the tragedies of the execution of his brother Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico in 1867, the suicide of his son Crown Prince Rudolf in 1889, the assassination of his wife Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi") in 1898, and the assassination of his nephew and heir-presumptive, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in 1914. It was his nephew’s assassination that resulted in Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against the Kingdom of Serbia, which was an ally of the Russian Empire. That activated a system of alliances declaring war on each other, which resulted in World War I. The Emperor died in 1916, after ruling his domains for almost 68 years.

Far greater than every man who has ever lived stands Jesus Christ who is the true “King of Kings.” He eternally reigns over all. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He is good and He is eternal and He is Lord of all.

“You should point to the whole man Jesus and say, ‘That is God.’” – Martin Luther

God’s Word: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:6-8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS  †

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” – Hebrews 2:1

By reading aircraft accident reports, one can learn from others’ mistakes and hopefully avoid them altogether.

In October 2020, an airline pilot prepared to pull a passenger jet away from an airport gate. He forgot to disengage the parking brake, damaging a part of a towing vehicle that was trying to pull the plane to the runway.

The pilot and the first officer wrote in their accident report that they’d even discussed the risks of being out of practice before the flight.

“In my case, it had been 40 calendar days since my last flight,” the first officer said.

The captain added: “We are flying less, so we need to be even more attentive. Better attention to detail.”

We need to pay attention to our spiritual condition. Today in prayer, confess to Jesus any distractions to your walk with the Lord. Seek to pay attention and follow Him in all that you do.

“The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.” – Richard Moss 

God’s Word: “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.” – Psalm 107:43

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS            †

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14

Louise Halling is a counselor and she reported the following: “I have muscular dystrophy. The last time I ever attempted to travel by myself on the London Tube – on crutches with a large rucksack – I found myself at Putney station facing an enormous flight of stairs. There was no lift or escalator and I stood at the bottom thinking, ‘I can’t do this. I just can’t’. I wanted to cry because I should’ve been able to manage the stairs, but I couldn’t. I just prayed.

And then a man with the most amazing face appeared at my side. ‘Can I carry your bag and help you up the stairs?’ he said. I couldn’t stop staring at him. He took my bag, took my arm, helped me to the top, and gave me back my bag. By the time I got sorted and turned around to thank him, he was gone. I mean, totally gone. Nowhere to be seen. I feel very certain he was an angel.”

Angels are ministering spirits sent to serve us and protect us. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has sent His angels to protect us.

“Could the veil be lifted, we would see that angels of God are around us to preserve us from unseen dangers. Thousands of times has their care been especially manifested for us in our warfare with the agencies of Satan.” - Ellen G. White

God’s Word: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” – Psalm 91:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2022, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN HEBREWS   †