Friday after Reminiscere Sunday
Posted on March 18, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 10:17-20 (NKJV)
10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Devotion
Many heterodox denominations make much about their supposed control of spirits. Whether it is the Hollywood idolizing of a Roman priest doing exorcisms, or the Pentecostals who claim to wield power over the devils and the Holy Ghost himself. Even the thought of these things are hard to think about because of how twisted those ideas are! In contrast, those who had true power over the evil spirits–those whom Our Lord Jesus gave authority for that specific task–were told not to boast of such things!
There is a good reason why our Lord tells the disciples not to rejoice in their power over spirits. There is a better knowledge than the devil being subject to them; it is the knowledge of forgiveness by Christ’s death and resurrection! In the Lamb’s Book of Life, Christians are not included because of our merits or power, but because of what Christ has done in defeating sin, death, and the devil. That is true power! It is the power of Christ to forgive sins! That is where our hope is! And that is what the devil truly fears.
Prayer: O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength: Keep us both outwardly and inwardly; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; 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 Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with the 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.
