Ember Friday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost
Posted on June 2, 2023 by under
Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16 (NKJV)
4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Devotion
“…we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…” (Eph. 4:14 NKJV).
Our Lord called men into various aspects of the Holy Ministry, “some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” The ultimate goal is that we would know the truth, believe the Gospel, trust in Christ for our salvation, and have eternal life. What interferes with that goal is “being tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” The truth does not change!
The Word of God is the sacred treasure of the Church. Growth in our knowledge of that truth is growth in the sense of spiritual maturity, no longer being “children” and instead moving into Christian adulthood. To speak, teach, explain, and proclaim that Word to you, God has given the Ministry to the Church. God grant us all diligence in hearing that Word, growing to maturity, and putting away the business of being tossed by every wind of doctrine. The Lord be with and bless all our pastors, as they earnestly seek, with God’s help, faithfully to preach and teach His Word to us.
Prayer: O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Ember Friday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost
O merciful God, we beseech Thee that Thy Church, which was gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may nowise be troubled by hostile attack, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
