2
Thessalonians3:6-13— Jesus may
return within a year. That means one year to love on earth! Or, put it this
way: you have a terminal disease which will kill you within one year. What
would you do with the time until the end? In Paul’s day, the Christians were
convinced that Jesus would return shortly.
They gave up their jobs and were idly standing by as
they waited for his coming day after day. Throughout history there have been
groups of people convinced of Jesus’ immediate return – they quit their jobs,
sold their property, took their children out of school and lived in a commune.
What would you do? Paul encourages us to keep busy and to work until the end
comes. See especially verses 10-13.
O God, so
rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, being ever
mindful of the end of all things and Your just judgment, we may be stirred up
to holiness of living here and dwell with You forever hereafter; through Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever. [2]
Collect for
Wednesday of the week of Pentecost 21:
We thank Thee, O God for Thy Holy
Spirit, who incites us to true knowledge of Thee. We humbly entreat Thee for
Thy Son’s sake to illumine our hearts with Thy Holy Spirit that we may truly
call upon Thee, know Thee, sincerely believe in Thee, give thanks to Thee, and
obey. Let not the light of Thy gospel be
taken from us through deceitful illusions. Direct us in all our affairs, with
the voice of Thy counsel, for Thy Son has promised that Thou wouldst give Thy
Holy Spirit to those who ask. Grant this, O God, for Thy holy name’s sake. To
Thee, with Thy Son and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory forever. Amen
(Philip Melanchthon) [3]
-10 November, 2022
[2] Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Wednesday of the week of Pentecost 21, For All the Saints, a Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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