Today Beside Augustine: I Am the Vine, You are the Branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, He it is that Bears Much Fruit, for Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing (John 15:5)

Chapter 13 [XII.]—Grace Causes Us to Do.

It is most properly said, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness,” ( 2 Cor. xii. 9) —in weakness, that is, not of the flesh only, as this man supposes, but both of the flesh and of the mind; because the mind, too, was, in comparison of that last stage of complete perfection, weak, and to it also was assigned, in order to check its elation, that messenger of Satan, the thorn in the flesh; although it was very strong, in contrast with the carnal or animal faculties, which as yet understand not the things of the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. ii. 14) Inasmuch, then, as strength is made perfect in weakness, whoever does not own himself to be weak, is not in the way to be perfected. This grace, however, by which strength is perfected in weakness, conducts all who are predestinated and called according to the divine purpose (Rom. viii. 28, 30) to the state of the highest perfection and glory. By such grace it is effected, not only that we discover what ought to be done, but also that we do what we have discovered,—not only that we believe what ought to be loved, but also that we love what we have believed. (Extracted from Anti-Pelagian Writings. See ccel.org)
Scripture Extract:
Psalm 120:16-21
For the LORD will build up Zion;
he will appear in his glory.
He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
and will not despise their prayer.
Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD:
that he looked down from his holy height,
from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die;
so that the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion,
and his praise in Jerusalem.
Prayer:
O that we could face all danger,
able to call down a miracle from heaven,
with calm certainty in your faithful protection,
keeping us unscathed from the laughter of Pharaoh.
Yet, may we risk believing in justice,
even when we cannot call down angel armies,
but find ourselves alone before Pharaoh’s throne,
daring to risk everything,
in the proclaiming of your realm.
May we risk believing in truth,
even when the world twists and abuses it,
but find ourselves unprotected before Pharaoh’s throne,
daring to risk everything,
in the confidence of your stand.
May we risk believing in love,
even when we can find no reason to do so,
but find ourselves fragile before Pharaoh’s throne,
daring to risk everything,
in the chance of the cross being right.
May we risk believing in you,
even when the world laughs at our foolishness,
but find ourselves naked before Pharaoh’s throne,
daring to risk everything,
because you have risked everything for us.
Through Jesus Christ apart from whom we can do nothing. Amen. (Prayer taken from the website of the Church of Scotland, under its Worship on the Web pages, under its Pray Now section, prayer for day #6. See http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/index.htm)