Daily Devotion for June 9, 2026

Concluding Exhortations

1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

To help us get a perspective on the verses for today, I will invite you on a little journey. Before we depart, it is imperative that I preface as follows: if you’re reading today and you don’t have or never had a loving parent, whether he/she had poor parenting skills or was very loving but taken too soon, there will be a prayer for you at the end. And remember, our loving God stands ready to fill in the gaps, as much as we can let God do so. Also, if you’re very busy right now, the main point will be in the last paragraph if you want to cut to the chase.

It’s 1979. There are no cell phones and in fact you won’t have totally easy access to a phone. Funds are limited. You are moving out of your area code and there is a long distance fee for calls. Most communication will be done by writing letters. You and your family have been preparing for months, but the day has arrived. You’re leaving home for the first time. Your supplies are purchased and packed. Hugs have been given. You’re in your car and ready to pull out. Your window is down for last good byes.

Mom has tried to prepare herself too, but at the last minute, she randomly unleashes rapid-fire. “I love you! Did you remember the cookies I baked? What about those healthy snacks too!? I packed plenty to share. Don’t forget who you are and where you came from!” You slightly roll your eyes, but you smile, wave, and start to pull away. Then here comes Mom with the most

infamous command of all, voice volume increased, waving wildly. “And don’t forget to change your underwear!!!”

As you pull away, a few tears will fall. What is Mom saying with this Hail Mary? It’s the same thing our Hebrews writer is saying in our scripture today. “I love you. I want you to be okay. I know you can do this. I will miss you terribly.”

If you have time, re-read the instructions above and think of ways to better incorporate them into your life. But don’t miss the love that’s written in between the lines. Of note, here’s what I told my oldest when he left home: “Question every one, question everything, don’t question God, just know God better.”

Dear God, from the day we’re conceived to 100+ years of age, we all need parents. You, the One who knows each of us, please step in to fill any voids our human parents might have left, very large or very small. Thank you for loving us and calling us Your children.

Juli Hampton

ham10five@gmail.com

Prayer Concern: Those getting ready to leave home