Thursday Evening Devotion

Psalm 74:1-13

O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long *

 why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?

  O think upon thy congregation *

 whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.

  Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance *

 and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

  Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy *

 which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.

  Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations *

 and set up their banners for tokens.

  He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees *

 was known to bring it to an excellent work.

  But now they break down all the carved work thereof *

 with axes and hammers.

  They have set fire upon thy holy places *

 and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.

  Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether *

 thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.

  We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more *

 no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.

  Why withdrawest thou thy hand *

 why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?

  For God is my King of old *

 the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15)

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

 

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Gloria in Excelsis

Glory be to God on high,

    and on earth peace, good will towards men.

We praise thee, we bless thee,

    we worship thee,

    we glorify thee,

    we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,

O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

    that takest away the sins of the world,

    have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sins of the world,

    receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,

    have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy,

thou only art the Lord,

thou only, O Christ,

    with the Holy Ghost,

    art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Everlasting God, I pray for my own needs and those of others:

Silence or add individual intentions here

I confess to Almighty God that I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed, in things done and left undone; especially these sins which I have committed today:

Silence or add individual intentions here

For these and all other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry. I pray God to have mercy upon me. I firmly intend amendment of life, and I humbly beg forgiveness of God and his Church.

+May the Almighty God grant me forgiveness of all my sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Trinity, One God, Thou art the bearer of good things, grant unto me a grateful heart that I may go forth with thanksgiving for all thy blessings:

Silence or add individual intentions here

And now, I gather my all prayers in the words Thy Son hath taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

    hallowed be thy Name,

    thy kingdom come,

    thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

    as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

    for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know thee as thou art revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread.  Grant this for the sake of thy love. Amen.

+The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless me and keep me. Amen.