February 13 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Hebrews 2:

¹Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
²For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
³How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
⁴God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
⁵For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
⁶But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?
⁷Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
⁸Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
¹⁰For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
¹¹For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
¹²Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
¹³And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
¹⁴Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
¹⁵And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
¹⁶For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
¹⁷Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
¹⁸For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Devotional

God sent his Son. Why did He do this? Why must his Son be made of a woman? Why must He be made under the law? "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." In other words, that we might become children of God. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

But the Son was not sent by the Father against his will. No, He loved us even as the Father did. Paul writes, "Who loved me, and gave himself for me." He "gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." He himself told his disciples, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his live a ransom for many." In order to be a ransom He had to take upon himself human nature, become a partaker of flesh and blood, in order to suffer and die for our sins. We read, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." John tells us, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." In him we have complete redemption. Paul writes, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Prayer

O God, graciously accept our thanks, we pray, for the unspeakable gift of Thy Son Jesus Christ, in whom we have righteousness and life. Help us to bear testimony to the truth as long as we live. Grant that those who are burdened by their sins may come to him who gave himself a ransom for sin; in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Gal. 4:5; John 3:16; Gal. 2:20; 1 Tim. 2:6; Matt. 20:28; Heb. 2:14, 15; 1 John 3:8; Eph. 1:7; 2 Cor. 9:15.

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