The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Monday, May 21, 2018 "Imitators" by Chuck Kralik (Missouri) Hebrews 13:1-8

The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Monday, May 21, 2018 "Imitators" by Chuck Kralik (Missouri) Hebrews 13:1-8
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7 (NIV))
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 little 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.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for leaders in the 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.
TODAY'S READING: Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly friendship continue; 2 but don’t forget to be friendly to outsiders; for in so doing, some people, without knowing it, have entertained angels. 3 Remember those in prison and being mistreated, as if you were in prison with them and undergoing their torture yourselves.
4 Marriage is honorable in every respect; and, in particular, sex within marriage is pure. But God will indeed punish fornicators and adulterers.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, “I will never fail you or abandon you.”[Hebrews 13:5 Deuteronomy 31:6] 6 Therefore, we say with confidence,
“Adonai is my helper; I will not be afraid —
what can a human being do to me?”[Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6]
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke God’s message to you. Reflect on the results of their way of life, and imitate their trust — 8 Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: I will imitate the faith of those who have gone before me.
PRAYER FOCUS: My spiritual mentors
READ MORE: More From Chuck Kralik
Hi, everyone! My name is Chuck Kralik. I am honored to have been chosen to appear in the latest issue of The Upper Room. I am a pastor and an author of Christian devotional material. I’d love for you to check out my website www.chuckkralikauthor.com.
One of the reasons I write is to share the good news message of what God has done for people through Jesus. I hope my writing is an encouragement and a blessing to others.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my devotion and for considering visiting my website. God’s blessings to each of you!
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