“And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words” (Hebrews 13:22).
TEXT — Hebrews 13:16-25
Message
Maurice Freehill posed the question, “Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light?” Certainly, there is something wrong with the man who is afraid of light. Sadly, many men are. They are afraid of the light that comes from God’s word, principally because it exposes their cherished evil deeds and rouses their conscience. But heaven-bound people delight in having God’s word.
The inspired writer of the epistle to the Hebrews was conscious of the importance of God’s word for the sustenance of believers’ life. In the few verses that make the text of today’s passage, they were urged to devote themselves to God and live to do good, obey the church leadership and pray for him for an opportunity to visit them shortly. He ended up commending them to God for the supply of every necessary grace so they would keep pleasing the Lord.
Our attitude to God’s word matters a lot. It defines the quality of our spirituality and determines our altitude. A Christian who maintains a casual attitude to the Scriptures and the teaching of God’s word will remain a spiritual baby wallowing in carnality for a long time. The one who makes effective use of the various means of grace at his disposal and takes delight in the study of God’s word will grow rapidly and develop more spiritual stamina that will enable him to live the overcoming life.
Today, God wants us to permit His word to reign in our lives as revealed to us by His messengers. We should not allow the prevailing religious entertainments and activities or the pursuit of the things of this life to reduce our appetite for the word of exhortation, which holds more eternal value.
Thought for the day
It is a pity that those who need the light most shun it most.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
