Friday of Ember Week in Lent
Posted on February 23, 2024 by under
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12-15 (NKJV)
10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.
Devotion
“Therefore…Therefore” (v. 12, 14) indicates that we are to “take heed,” based on the examples in the history of God’s people (v. 1-11), concerning where and how we stand. If we do not run from idolatry, we very well might not stand, but fall.
St. Paul declares that what tempts the Corinthians and us ought to be understood and rejected both as contrary to God’s will and to our own self-interest. We are certainly no less responsible for the stumbling of our flesh than the unbeliever is for living entirely in devotion to it! We can rejoice in our not being subject to any temptation not common to man by repenting of our failures. Even more, we know this: God is faithful. God wants you not to sin, and He provides the way to escape from those temptations, a way to be able to bear up under them.
Thanks be to God that you live in the liturgical reality of 1 Corinthians 10:16—11:33, because what St. Paul next makes clear is precisely that “fleeing from idolatry” means seeking refuge in the body and blood of Jesus. Therein is the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, even the proclamation of His death by which we stand!
Collect: O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us, 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 Friday of Ember Week in Lent
O Lord, be gracious to Thy people, and as Thou makest them devoted to Thee, in Thy mercy comfort them with Thy kind assistance, through our Lord Jesus Christ, 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.
