Meditation

Read Hebrews 13:1-8                                      —Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

The days leading up to my father’s funeral were a mix of sorrow and beauty. I had time to spend with family and the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. We recalled stories of Dad, laughing at some and crying at others. We felt an incredible, and often unexplainable, sense of joy and peace. While we greatly missed Dad, we knew that he was with his heavenly Father even while we mourned.

In one of our conversations, my sister said that she could see a bit of my father’s personality and character in each of his grandchildren. The eldest grandson demonstrates my father’s loyalty to family and friends. My niece possesses Dad’s easy-going approach to life. My daughter is blessed with a spirit of quiet contemplation, while my son is a kid of one-liners. Each of these characteristics was evident often during my father’s lifetime and is carried on in the lives of his grandchildren.

Scripture calls us to imitate those who have gone before us in the Christian faith, to follow their example of obedience, perseverance, joy and love. I know that my father was not perfect, but Dad trusted Jesus to forgive his shortcomings and to love him in spite of them. That kind of faith and trust is certainly worth imitating.

Prayer—Dear God, thank you for leaders in faith who are with us now and for those who have gone ahead of us. Help us to imitate their lives of faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thought for the Day—I will imitate the faith of those who have gone before me.

Chuck Kralik (Missouri)