Daily Devotion

Sunday, February 8, 2026  

Today's Scripture
Hebrews 13:1–16

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (NRSV)

While the letter to the Hebrews begins more like a sermon than a letter, the author signs off with the kind of closing we have come to expect from New Testament epistles — a kind of “laundry list” of attitudes and behaviors to follow. Doing so, the author is clear, will please God and allow community members to live peacefully.

We are still called to live in these ways, but it can be hard to know what that means, here and now. Church members often ask me if Fourth Church has an official position on political issues that swirl around us. We usually spend some time in conversation before I respond, but the discussion always leads to this: our “official” position is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and our challenge as a church and individuals is to determine what that looks like, here and now.

In the words of Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Even though Christ reveals himself in ways that are fresh and new, he remains constant — and the instructions from Hebrews do, too: We are to extend hospitality to the stranger… view those in prison or being tortured as though they are we, so that we might urgently seek to prevent abuse… be faithful in our marriages and relationships… be content with what we have, rather than focus on the love of money, and finally, to always share what we have.

These exhortations remain true, and if we allow them to guide our decision-making, we will find ourselves living in Jesus’ way. And I can’t think of a better way to live.

Prayer

Holy Jesus, you are the same yesterday and today and forever — slow to anger and overflowing with love. Remind us that with you as our helper, we will not be afraid. May this give us peace. Amen. 

Written by Amy Pagliarella, Parish Associate for Caring Ministries

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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