Yesterday, Today, and Forever!

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Hebrews 13:1-9 and 12-17, NKJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13 is an amazing chapter; in just a short devotional, we can barely cover the highlights.

The chapter begins with an admonition to remember those who have the rule over us (ministers of the Gospel), and to follow the faith they exhibit. Think about the words "remember" and "yesterday, today, and forever". God knows how prone we are to forget, or to think we live in a different time with different rules and different customs. What a great tool of the devil. How many people has he deceived with such ideas? Do not be fooled, Christ (and the Word of God) never changes. It is just as applicable to our life today as it was in the Old Testament and New Testament times.

The Old Testament sacrifices have been done away with because Christ, the True Sacrifice, has shed His own blood to redeem a people for Himself. Are you reproached as a Christian? Do people seem to avoid you or make fun of your faith? Do they over emphasize every mistake you make, seemingly making your testimony of no effect?

Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

This world is not our home!

The conclusion, then, is: Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. It is not as easy as it sounds, because God has chosen to put imperfect vessels (like us) before us to rule over us and teach us His Word. Our pastors and teachers are not perfect, and we are not perfect. But Christ is!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Amen!