Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
Hebrews 3:1-11. Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling...
Those few words are so laden with meaning.
Brothers and sisters: In a land filled with hatred and death and destruction, calling someone who is not from your tribe, is not the same color as you, does not speak the same language as you, a "brother" or "sister" breaks barriers that have been in place for millennia.
Calling someone a holy partner, thus lifting that person and his or her work out of the earth-bound mundaneness of daily life, gives new meaning to what we are doing together, for partners do not work separately. We are yoked by and through God in a partnership with God.
Having a heavenly calling leads us in new directions, directions chosen by and given to us by the Lord. Nothing political here; nothing tribal; nothing cultural. This calling comes from God on high and is for God on high.
Taken together, these ten words elevate life and ministry out of the muck of our lives and into God's holy realm, where all is done for the glory of God and God's holy creation.
Brothers and sisters ... holy partners ... heavenly calling ... these words are life-changing and life-giving.
PRAY for the Diocese of Alabama (Province IV, USA)
Ps 18:1-20 * 18:21-50; Genesis 4:17-26; John 1:43-51
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
