Day 14

2/19/2015

Proverbs 3:27-28 (ESV)
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

Meditative thoughts:
What is my belief that God provides all that we have?
How can I be an instrument of God to provide for the spiritual and physical needs of others?

Judy Grulke

2/18/2015 10:38:58 pm

From - Journal of Lutheran Mission, February 2015 -- Matthew Harrison

...Christian service of the neighbor finds its source, motivation, and example in Christ incarnate, redeeming, atoning, active love. Christ is born for us, becomes incarnate for us, and Luther says, “We, as it were, become incarnate for our neighbor in need.” God would have all come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). A biblically and confessionally faithful theology of mercy clearly confesses that the Father has decreed from eternity that whomever He would save, He would save through Christ, as Christ Himself says, “No one comes to The Father except through me” (John14:6), and again, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved” (John 10:9).

What is the essence of being a Lutheran Christian in mercy? Christ! What does Christ do? He speaks Law and Gospel. He speaks consolation. He speaks His Word. He makes promises, and He acts in love. What do we do as Christians? We speak. We speak of Christ. We can’t help but speak of Christ. The fundamental truth of the Bible that there is no salvation outside faith in Christ and His merits animate the Church’s work for those in need. If this is not so, such work becomes merely secular and may be performed by any entity in society.

The Gospel gives forgiveness and begets merciful living. Lives that receive mercy and grace cannot but be lovingly merciful toward the neighbor. The merciful washing of Baptism in Romans 6 produces merciful living in Rom. 7:4–6. I noticed when Paul taught about the Sacraments or the Gospel, the consequence was also always a life of mercy and service.

In absolution, the merciful Word of the Gospel begets merciful speaking and living. Repentance ought to produce good fruits, the greatest possible generosity to the poor (Apology 12, 174). When we refuse to address the needs within the community as people of God and particularly as the Church of God, we are not merely breaking the Law, but we are also denying the Sacraments. We are denying what we are made in Baptism. We’re denying what Christ’s body and blood is for us.

Christ’s mandate and example of love for the whole person remains our supreme example for life in this world and for care of the needy body and soul. The Lutheran Confessions explicitly and repeatedly state that the work of diaconic love (charity, works of love) is an assumed reality in the Church’s corporate life (see Treatise 80–82, Apology 4 and Apology 7).

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Day 14

Walking in the Word