Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Care in Every Seasons of Life

Bible Reading: Hebrews 13:1-6

Key verse: “God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)

DEVOTION

Hebrews 13:1–6 speaks into these restless spaces of the human heart by revealing a God whose care is steady, personal, and peace-giving in every season of life.   The seasons of life could mean the times of abundance and times of scarcity, moments of companionship and stretches of loneliness, periods of strength and seasons of vulnerability. Hebrews 13:1–6 speaks into these shifting rhythms, reminding us that faithful care is not optional but essential to a life shaped by Christ.
“Let mutual love continue” (Heb.13:1). Care is not meant to be seasonal or selective; it is to be sustained. In the early church, love was expressed through hospitality, generosity, and solidarity. The writer urges believers not to neglect welcoming strangers, for in doing so some “have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb.13:2). This reminds us that every stage of life brings unexpected encounters with People who bear God’s grace. Care in such moments requires openness and attentiveness, even when it is inconvenient.
The call deepens in verse 3: “Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.” It invites us to resist emotional distance and to share the suffering of others. In seasons when we are strong, we are called to stand with the weak; in seasons of freedom, to remember those who are confined. Christian care bridges the gap between “us” and “them.”
Verses 4 and 5 turn our attention inward, reminding us that care also includes faithfulness in personal life. Honoring marriage and resisting the love of money safeguard relationships and hearts from agony. The advice to be content with what we have is grounded in God’s promise: “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb.13:5). Care for the soul flows from trust in God’s abiding presence. “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Heb.13:6) declares the depth of hope. We are able to care for others across all seasons because we ourselves are held by a faithful God.
Hebrews 13:1–6 teaches us that care is not limited to particular moments of life. It is a continuous posture rooted in love, expressed in hospitality, sustained by compassion, protected by integrity, and empowered by trust in God’s unfailing presence. In every season of life, care becomes a living testimony to the nearness of God among us.
 

PRAYER
Gracious God, quiet our anxious hearts. Teach us to trust Your unfailing presence, rest in Your promises, and extend Your caring love to others in every season of life. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Augustine of Hippo

Rinu Varughese
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, New York
 

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