Read Hebrews 13:7-17.
Our passage today starts off by asking us to “remember your leaders who spoke God’s word to you.” Who in your life has spoken God’s word to you? No matter how many people have spoken God’s word to you throughout your life, today I invite you to choose just one such person to reflect on. Perhaps you want to reflect on a pastor or campus minister, or maybe a mentor, parent, or friend. The person you choose does not have to be Presbyterian, or even Christian. People of all faiths are children of God, and they all have wisdom to offer us.
Whomever you choose, I invite you now to think about their faith (or lack thereof). If they have the same faith background as you, in what ways do you practice your faith similarly? In what ways do your faith practices differ? If they come from a different faith background, are there elements of their faith that intrigue you, or that you would like to learn more about? Do they have any practices within their faith that are shockingly similar to practices within your own faith? How does this person live out their faith through their actions, and in their everyday life? After reflecting on the faith of the person you chose, what are some ways that you can learn from and imitate their faith, as the Hebrews passage asks us to do?
Pray
God, thank you for placing people in our lives to speak your word to us. Help us to be ready to listen when you speak to us, and to learn from the people you choose to speak through. Amen.
Andrew Pinches
Jesuit Volunteer, Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest
Alum, UKirk at Michigan State
Words for Waiting 