The Thursday after the Ninth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 21, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. John 5:39-47 (NKJV)
5:39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
Devotion
We all have sinned and have been accused by the Law of Moses for misusing our Master’s goods. As a consequence, the Law threatens to remove us from our place as servants in the house of God. What then shall we do?
The steward from Sunday’s parable can represent one possible response. He did not care at all about staying in his master’s service and embraced his punishment. Instead, he poured all of his efforts into gaining honor in the eyes of other men in the hope that they would provide for him. Many choose a similar strategy in response to the Law. They ignore it, completely throw themselves into the service of mammon and worldly honor, and abandon any thought of service to God.
There is, however, a better option for us, as St. John teaches in his epistle: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God has promised that He will pardon all those who come to Him in humble repentance and faith. He will dismiss the accusations against them, honor them with the righteousness of Christ, and even restore them as His servants. We should follow this second path, seeking the honor of God by believing in the Son of God, and not be troubled about the temporary honor, wealth, and security of this world.
Collect: Let Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please Thee; 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.
