Festival of St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor
Posted on March 17, 2023 by under
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:8-12 (NKJV)
3:8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Devotion
Who were “deacons”? They were obviously not bishops. We, of course, today have quite a time sorting out the different titles. They have gone through many changes down through the years. That is why there is so much confusion. Also, the Bible does not give us specific instructions on how the Church is to be organized. We have been given the principle that there is one divinely ordained Office of the Ministry. By human right, we may order the grades within the one office as we see fit.
H. E. Jacobs believed that the deacons referred to in 1 Timothy were in the Office of the Ministry. He says: “Acts 7 and 8 clearly show that ‘the seven’ preached as well as attended to the secular responsibilities of the infant Church. The qualifications of deacons required by 1 Tim. 3:8-13 show that their duties were not purely secular.” (A Summary of the Christian Faith, pp. 444–445). In any event, these deacons were to be serious, no nonsense people; not flighty, immature persons.
We have too many silly people in positions of authority today. Deacons must understand the faith. All those who are to serve in the Office of the Ministry must go through spiritual formation and be tested by the Church before being given great authority. Then such men are a wonderful blessing to the faithful.
Prayer: We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to be our defense against all our enemies; 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 Festival of St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor
O God, who didst call Patrick to preach the Gospel, grant to us Thy servants steadfastness in the confession of the true faith that they would preach that unchanging Gospel in the midst of the darkness of this age, 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 Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
