The Thursday after the First Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord
Posted on January 16, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 16:24-27 (NKJV)
16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Devotion
“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
Some people argue from this verse that Scripture says we are saved by our works. So how are we supposed to respond when someone misunderstands this passage in such a way? Well, the answer might surprise you. Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. We deny ourselves when we repent and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. In other words, this happens when one puts his faith in Jesus to cover all his sins with the Savior’s righteousness. “…[that I may] be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Phil. 3:9).
Jesus’ righteousness is ours through faith. His perfection, His good works, and His holiness are counted before God as our very own. The Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward those who have faith by the power of the Holy Spirit according to Christ’s works. The reward is yours because of His work.
Collect: O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon Thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; 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.
