Hebrews 5:1-10 (NRSV)
Read Hebrews 5:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 5Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. Verse 2He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; Verse 3and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. Verse 4And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. Verse 5So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; Verse 6as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." Verse 7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Verse 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; Verse 9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,
Verse 10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Devotion
In a world where success is measured by how quickly a person can climb to the top and importance is measured by how much glory a person can grab, these words in the letter to the Hebrews tell a completely different story. It is always difficult to come to terms with the call of God as having nothing to do with honor, and everything to do with serving. Even Christ did not glorify himself—it was God who claimed and called him—and it was through his suffering that he was truly glorified. Jesus was never looking for the place of importance and status; he came to serve and that is the call that we share as the people of God. The same God who calls us has promised to be with us, to provide those places of refuge, to bring life and salvation out of suffering and death.
Prayer
God, you have called us to serve. Help us to let go of our need for status or honor, to stop looking in all the wrong places for our true identity. Show us the way as we go out day by day to be the Body of Christ in the world. Amen.