Friday after the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 6, 2024 by under
Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18 (NKJV)
1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
Devotion
As St. Paul was afflicted and persecuted, others were preaching Christ in selfishness and pretense. This is horrible. But it is very much like what the priests and other false teachers did to our Lord Jesus Christ. As our Savior was mocked, rejected, and greatly afflicted, they stirred up the people in the pretense of serving God and His temple. The story of our Lord’s true, faithful Church is not all fluff y sentiments and navel-gazing self improvement. It is about understanding the truth by the power of His Word and Spirit, and about doing the work—which sometimes feels hard and horrible—that He calls us to do so others can see and hear the truth as well.
Furthermore, St. Paul says he rejoices in the midst of these circumstances! We understand from the broader context of God’s Word, no one should rejoice that evil men are causing affliction or being pretentious. We do not rejoice in evil (see 1 Cor. 13:6). However, we do rejoice in tribulations, because our gracious Lord works great blessings through them! “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Rom. 5:1-4)
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.
