Today's Scripture
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 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. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 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.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
—Hebrews 13:1-8 (NIV)Additional Scripture
-1 Timothy 4:8-12
-Romans 1:16-17
-2 Timothy 1:3-8
People will remember more of what you do than what you say. When we think about passing the flame of faith to others, what we say doesn’t matter nearly as much as who we are. Who we are is determined by the thousands of little actions we take each day that make up our character.
Hebrews 13:1-8 confirms that an inspiring faith is made visible through concrete actions:
hospitality, compassion, integrity, marital faithfulness, generosity and unwavering trust in God. Hebrews says that a leader’s life and their outcome should be so attractive and appealing that others will want to imitate it. Whether a leader or not, a consistent, loving and persevering life of faith has multiplying power because it is attractive. This kind of practical faith becomes a guide for those around us—especially for the next generation.
Paul says to Timothy, “Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (Tim 4:12b). A life like this doesn’t need to force influence—it attracts, shapes and transforms.
We live in a world searching for trustworthy role models. Faith lived authentically is a light others can follow. This faith is not based on fleeting emotions but on the unchanging character of Christ: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Passing the flame is more than delegating responsibility—it is igniting hearts with the faith that sustains us. May our lives reflect a living, inspiring and contagious faith.