Daily Reading: Hebrews 11
Of whom the world was not worthy... (Hebrews 11.38)
Devotional Thought: Our chapter today is Hebrews 11. This is the faith chapter, chronicling the leaders of faith across the Old Testament. Every time I read this chapter, I am moved by the first part of verse 38: "Of whom the world was not worthy." Of whom is the author writing? Those who kept faith even in severe trial. I have to ask myself, and I encourage you to ask yourself: “Is the world worthy of you?” Ponder this question for a few moments in light of the following scripture:
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11.32-40)
Prayer: Lord, I know that I am not worthy of your grace. I am saved not because of my own merit but because of the unbounded mercies of God. May I live this new life in faithfulness and praise to you so that one day it may be said of me, "of whom the world was not worthy." Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 55:1-8
1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea;
2 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3 because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.
4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away and stay in the desert;
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”
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