DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
JUNE 29, 2026
READ: Hebrews 10 (Focus 1-10)
MEMORY VERSE
“We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10
BACKGROUND
As the US Civil War (1861-65) dragged on, both sides resorted to conscription (the draft) to fill their ranks.
Under the Confederate law, a draftee could dodge service by hiring a man who was exempt from the draft to replace him—in most cases someone under or over the conscription age.
Generally, the “principal” (as one evading the draft was called) paid a fee to the government as well as a large sum to his substitute. Only the wealthy could afford substitutes.
The apostle Paul writes of the cosmic spiritual war, where “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (6:23). There was no clause or loophole that gave those with “means” some way out.
But what about a substitute for us all?
The writer to the Hebrews praises God, who in His infinite mercy sent Jesus to be our substitute—to bear the punishment our sin deserved, to pay our debt by sacrificing “the body of Jesus Christ once for all” so that we would be “made holy” through His substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10).
We have “died with Christ,” and one day “we will also live with him” (Romans 6:8).That’s the good news right there. Christ died for you and for me; the substitute took our place.
We’re now more than simply survivors of the war. We’ve become the sons and daughters of God.
John Blase
INSIGHT
As the writer of Hebrews explains the thorough effectiveness of the sacrifice Christ made for us, he makes it clear that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (10:4). So what was the point of the sacrificial system the Hebrew people practiced for centuries? I
t was “only a shadow of the good things that are coming” (10:1). This is why John the Baptist declared of Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
What the slaughter of animals couldn’t do, Christ did. As a result, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
Tim Gustafson
APPLICATION
How does it make you feel to realize that Jesus died in your place? How might you explain this good news to a friend?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
Christ died for you and for me; the substitute took our place…We’ve become the sons and daughters of God.
PR’s TAKE
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 6:6-8 niv
PRAYER
“Dear Jesus, I praise You for being my substitute and securing for me life eternal.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“IN MY PLACE” Matt Boswell
In my place, He stood condemned
He who knew no sin
Became sin for us
That we might become His righteousness
Bearing all my sin and shame
The punishment and blame
He conquered the grave
That we might become the heirs of grace
In my place, Jesus died
The spotless Lamb laid down His life
The wrath of God was satisfied
In my place, Jesus died
Nail pierced hands, bleeding side
His body bruised, my God crucified
A crown of thorns, dying cries
His flesh was torn, my God crucified
Hallelujah, what a Savior
