Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 02-17-23

Intro: Believers are people who choose to live by faith, hope, and love in Christ (1 Cor 13:13). We know these three works—trinity of grace—are immortal gifts which go with us into eternal life [perfected when Christ returns]. Yet, until Christ comes, one of these graces is to be highly exalted in our lives—Love. Why? Because we cannot sustain genuine faith or hope without Love—God.

In the beginning of our passage today from a letter written to the Hebrew Christians, we read about the supernatural love of parents [Amram and Jochebed] for their baby of grace [Moses]. That love motivates their faith [trust in God] to act according to a very unusual rescue plan. These parents placed their confident hope in God’s promise of eternal life. Love must drive their faith and hope, because the full plan of God is not visible to them in this situation. But please read the full story, because miracle after miracle follows Moses and this trinity of grace (Ex. 2:1-10).

Moses continues to grow in the midst of the Egyptian culture, but he never stops identifying with the oppressed Israelite people who love God. Moses chooses the wealth of God’s promise over anything the world [Egypt] has to offer. Eventually, Moses lets go of everything familiar and comfortable in order to follow God into the unfamiliar and supernatural work of abundant grace. As Moses follows God in acts of faith and hope, not only does he become a very powerful tool in God’s hand, he becomes an Old Testament typology [symbolism] of the life of Christ. Christ is the perfect living revelation of faith, hope, and love in “I Am” [I Exist].

May we all have spiritual eyes to see the reward ahead promised by the Father and be willing to cling to God [Love] even while we are temporary pilgrims in this sinful world. We cannot live a hybrid faith—we must choose the Love of God over the world. The Holy Spirit will stir our faith and hope each day to live in the miraculous as we remain in God’s Love found only in Christ (John 15:9). “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Heb 11:6). If you have never tasted the pure love of God found through a relationship in Christ, simply pray and ask Christ to rescue your soul, today. Have a great weekend and hope to see you in worship on Sunday. Blessings…

Hebrews 11:23-28 NLV

23 By faith Moses, after his birth, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful and divinely favored child; and they were not afraid of the king’s (Pharaoh’s) decree. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 because he preferred to endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of the Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God]. 27 By faith he left Egypt, being unafraid of the wrath of the king; for he endured [steadfastly], as seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he kept the Passover [which foreshadows the coming of the Messiah/Rescuer] and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts], so that the destroyer [death] of the firstborn would not touch them (the firstborn of Israel/people of God).


Prayer: Lord, thank you for the grace that protects us while we are growing in our understanding of what pleases you. Fill us with faith and hope as we walk in your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.