448. Wednesday after Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity.
Preserve me, O God;
for in thee do I put my trust.
Thou art my Lord;
I have no good beyond thee.
1 John 5, 18-21. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
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When Saint John here says that “whosoever is born of God sinneth not,” and in the same Epistle, 2, 1, declares that “if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father”; he clearly means that true believers do not live in sin; but walk in the truth, shun wickedness, and keep the commandments of God; yet without being sinless. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1, 8). This is as certainly true as it is that if any do not purify himself, he is not a true child of God (3, 3). The whole world lies in wickedness, and thus all unregenerate hearts are ruled by the devil. The children of God, on the other hand, have been set free; so that the devil can do no more than tempt them. They watch, and are on their guard, and the Holy Ghost is with them, and warns them, and chastens them; so that “the wicked one toucheth them not.” As the children of the world are in the liar, so the children of God “are in him that is true.” The words of the apostle are terrible in their solemn import, but at the same time they are full of comfort. “The whole world lieth in wickedness,” lieth in wickedness; but we are in him that is true, we are in the Lord. “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not;” but “the Son of God hath given us an understanding that we may know the true God, Jesus Christ.” Here the apostle distinctly declares that Jesus is the true God. Scripture could not with greater clearness assert the divinity of Christ. The unbelievers deny Christ, the true God; and they say: “The devil is a myth; we are lords; we are in God; for the whole world is God.” We know, however, that sin is not of God; and we know that everyone who serves sin is the slave of the devil; we know that Jesus has delivered us from the power of the devil; and we know that whosoever is of God and in God sinneth not. — “Little children, keep yourselves from idols!” Thus the apostle closes his letter. Be assured of your victory; but be vigilant always! Here a sifting out is taking place under dissensions and danger. Let the world keep its idols; idols of clay, and idols of gold, and intellectual idols! Do not receive the mark of the beast; but carry the cross, and follow Christ!
Faithful Savior, give us the assurance that the wicked one shall not touch us; and make us vigilant and faithful always and everywhere unto our dying hour. Thou knowest we were easily led astray by the alluring idols; but we put our trust in thee. Do not cast us off; and let our eyes never grow dim, but see thee with ever greater clearness. Amen.*
Sure I must fight, if I would reign:
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.
Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith they bring it nigh.
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.