449. Thursday after Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity.
Lord, speak to our heart,
that we may watch and walk
in the light before thee. Amen.
2 Timothy 4, 1-8. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
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The number of such as teach false doctrines is all the time increasing; and people always run after something new, something which tickles their itching ears. Therefore the Lord’s true servants, and with them all humble and sincere Christians, must do their work all the more faithfully. They must walk constantly in the sight of him who soon shall come to judge the world; they must bear witness of him when it is convenient to them, and when it is not; they must not be exasperated on account of all the foolishness which they see, but with the meekness of Christ reprove, rebuke, and exhort the precious souls. They must keep watch over themselves, and keep an eye of love on the brethren; bear the cross without repining, and be faithful to the end in the Lord’s work. Fidelity, ye brethren in the sacred calling, constant fidelity be your watchword; zeal for Christ, fresh courage, unswerving loyalty to the truth, and fearlessness in confessing it unto the end! “Make full proof of thy ministry,” says Paul, and points you to his own example, but also to the crown that awaits you. There are especially three things which stir my heart in that which the apostle here says concerning his being ready to be offered, and his hope: 1) His example. He exhorts us to follow him, even as he followed Christ. “Let my example teach you that the Lord is faithful to give strength unto the end! To me it is a blessed thing to be offered; may it be the same to you when your time comes, as it soon will!” 2) The ranks are being thinned out. The old veterans are passing away to their reward in the church triumphant; while the difficulties are increasing, and we are now to take their place. Let us fill it with credit, stand united, lift high the banner of our confession of faith, and may we soon be gathered with them as victors! 3) The crown is worth fighting for; the day of triumph is coming, on which all the Lord’s soldiers who remained loyal to him shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. — Be strong, then, through grace; endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ; strive lawfully, that you may be crowned! Lord, wake us, and strengthen us by thy Spirit; keep all who are thine faithful and fearless unto the end. Amen.*
Awake, my soul! stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on:
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.
A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey:
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.
[Common Service Book A380; listen here]
* 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.