Ember Friday of Whitsun Week
Posted on June 10, 2022 by under
Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16 (NKJV)
4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Devotion
The Ascension is no abandonment, leaving a ‘self-serve’ Christianity with each wondering whether his salvation was genuine. Rather, Jesus established the continuation of His own Office as an objective delivery system for God’s truth and blessings.
Holy Scripture, the written Word of God through His prophets, apostles, and evangelists, gives us an everlasting source and norm for all things to be taught in the Church. From it His pastors teach us, feeding us in these verdant pastures and giving us to drink of these pure waters. They do this work of ministry—of service to Christ—so that the Church is truly and rightly edified (built up). Thus, Christ’s holy people are equipped to serve in their various vocations, so that in both words and works all confess the same thing. Our faith is united in this singular knowledge of the Son of God being declared to all, that others might join us in confessing the same. In this, Jesus’ word is fulfilled, that your “light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16; cf. 1 Pet. 2:9–10).
Through our bishop, pastors, and deacons—who are committed to the standard of the pure Word of God, purely confessed in the Book of Concord Christ’s Church is fitted together to completion, so that the members of Christ’s body are not led astray, but fed with His grace so that each member supports and builds up the other.
Prayer: O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; 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 Ember Friday in Pentecost
O merciful God, we beseech Thee that Thy Church, which was gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may nowise be troubled by hostile attack, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
