The Friday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on June 27, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 10:34-42 (NKJV)
10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Devotion
The Lord intended for households to be a blessing, but Satan works to destroy those, as well. The first family in God’s good creation was quickly attacked by the enemy. Eve listened to Satan’s lies and did as she pleased. Adam listened to his wife’s error and followed her lead. And Cain was rebellious and self-willed, even to the point of murdering his brother. Our Savior did not come desiring to cause division in families and households. He came to teach the truth, and because the enemy convinces people to believe lies, households are divided because some are faithful to Christ and some are not.
Our mortal nature is weak in its sinfulness. But our Lord Jesus comes to strengthen us by His Word and Spirit. We are called to walk in the faith that rejoices in His cross of our salvation. Sometimes walking in faith also means bearing the cross of difficult work, sacrifice, and even grief, because loved ones may be weak or even faithless. Nevertheless, we are called to confess the truth of our Lord’s Word, and do the work that loves our enemies and helps those who need to repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ’s forgiveness and righteousness.
Collect: O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; 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.
