DCLM Daily Manna 7 September 2026: Not A Tall Order
KEY VERSE: “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).
TEXT: HEBREWS 13:15–17 (KJV)
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.
READ OTHER DCLM DAILY DEVOTIONAL HERE
Asking persecuted persons in an evil world to rejoice and do good and not seek retaliation would appear an insensitive charge. To plead with them to share with others out of the little left to them by those maltreating them would sound callous. Counselling them, finally, to honour spiritual leaders teaching them all these acts of restraint amid death-dealing challenges would seem a tall order, impossible to meet.
Not so for the Hebrews in diaspora, receiving these instructions from the writer of the epistle. It was not a tall order. They knew their calling as saved, sanctified and Spirit-filled Christians who had been taught to follow the footsteps of their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. He was reviled and pierced; He did not hit back. He was poor, but He still made many rich and sufficient as He met their needs. He respected the temple leaders by urging His disciples and the people to observe their laws, but not to imitate their deeds. It was also not unusual to ask the Hebrews to rejoice and be grateful to God in times of hardship. Their Redeemer always looked up gratefully to heaven when in dire depths.
The way Christians can convince the world of their total and true deliverance from the carnal habits of vindictiveness, ingratitude, rebelliousness and selfishness is to display the exact opposite of these vices in their lives. Our preaching will be more persuasive and penetrating if it is aided by our noble actions in line with Christ’s teachings. We have to be intentionally determined to express the new nature the Lord’s death and resurrection gave us. Our salvation is hollow without impactful works accompanying it.
Christ’s expectations from His followers today are precisely captured in this last chapter of the epistle to the suffering Jewish Christians outside Jerusalem. He is watching out for those who would not compromise in a world filled with hatred, contempt and calumny for those who choose to faithfully stick to the narrow way. We must not disappoint Him.
The Bible in One Year: Leviticus 21–24
Thought for the Day: “God’s presence with you in the fire makes the fire…”
The remainder of this sentence is cut off in the scanned image.
DCLM Daily Manna 7 September 2026
