Friday after Populus Sion, The Second Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 15, 2023 by under
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NKJV)
3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.
5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
Devotion
“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.”
“Patience is a virtue,” we are told from a young age. Yet we live in a world that does not really teach this virtue. We expect instant gratification: “the fast food better come in five minutes, not seven”; “the web-page better load in three seconds or less!”
Faith embraces patience. The Old Testament book of Lamentations, amid bitter circumstances, says, “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (3:26). St. Paul speaks of the Lord directing our hearts into “the patience of Christ.” He speaks thus, even while praying that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly. Children learn patience when they see presents under the tree, but know they must wait till Christmas to open them.
Most of the Christian life is like that. Repentance and forgiveness of sins we always have, but the unfolding of God’s purposes for our own lives, and even for the whole world, happen in His time. God grant us patient and prayerful endurance, even as God is patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to saving faith in Christ Jesus, our coming Lord.
Collect: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Advent
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father 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.
