The Thursday after the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 25, 2025 by under
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 (NKJV)
1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Devotion
Note the nature of the Gospel in action for the Church at Thessalonica: “…knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance…” The Gospel, by definition, is all God’s doing. The doctrine of election gives us assurance that God, from all eternity, has chosen us to be His own before time even began. We were then called in time by the power of His divine Word. Our God used means by sending His Son to win salvation, and now uses His Means of Grace to deliver salvation to His chosen.
Certainly, the doctrine of election has been misused. We dare not fall into the trap of saying, “I’m chosen, therefore I cannot be lost.” Rather, it is meant for those who doubt their faith, saying, “How can God save a wretch like me?” As with all Scripture, there is a time for Law and a time for Gospel. Let this doctrine of comfort be used in its proper time and place to give consolation to the downtrodden.
Collect: Keep, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Church with Thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without Thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by Thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; 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.
