The Friday after Oculi Sunday
Posted on March 28, 2025 by under
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:8-12 (NKJV)
3:8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Devotion
The Apostle Paul gives the qualifications for ministers in our reading today, showing how they are to conduct themselves in the Office of the Ministry. A deacon or pastor may be imperfect. After all, everyone in the Church is there to have their sins forgiven. The minister needs his sins forgiven by Jesus just as the rest of the congregation does. The question is not whether a minister is doing everything perfectly, or, as some would argue, everything that the congregation wants them to do. This attitude has been to the hurt of many congregations, expecting the pastor to go even beyond what Scripture would have him do to appease the busybodies.
Instead, if your pastor is striving to be as the Apostle Paul has described, rejoice! Many so-called church bodies seem to let anyone preach, even if they are disqualified. If your pastor is qualified and shows his determination to live as Scripture teaches him, if your pastor shows diligence in his faithful service to God’s Church, love him and support him. Your pastor is called not to serve himself, but to show you God’s love through the preaching of the Word and the faithful giving of the Sacraments. Therefore, pastors who demonstrate these qualities should be given love and respect; not because they are great men, but because God is great and God has given you a faithful minister.
Collect: We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to be our defense against all our enemies; 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 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 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.
