December 12, 2024
Today’s Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties – To Everyone
Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 29:1-14, Jude 1-25
“The commandments … are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Romans 13:9)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Luther’s Table of Duties concludes with a general instruction of what every Christian owes everyone else, and the answer is not surprising: we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Along the same lines, Luther also cites a passage reminding us that one way we express our love for others is by praying for them.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s amazing how many ethical dilemmas can be resolved by appealing to this simple direction. If you find yourself in a situation where you don’t know what to do, just ask yourself: If I were in their shoes, how would I want to be treated?
So, for example, if you have acted badly, would you want people to be patient with you and give you another chance? Then, you should be patient with your neighbor who has acted badly and give him another chance. If you were truly in need and asked someone for help, would you want them to help you? Then you should help the person who is asking you.
This is simple enough to understand. The hard part isn’t knowing how your neighbor would want to be treated but actually putting love into action and treating them that way. It’s easier to do if your neighbor is a friend and someone you love. After all, we genuinely want to see our friends do well. But how do you love as yourself the person you just met, or the person you know and don’t like? How do you act for the good of someone who isn’t interested in your own good?
In every situation, but especially when you are dealing with someone who is ‘tough to love,’ it is good to remember that you are loved with an incredible and undeserved love. Our Lord Jesus didn’t lay down His life for you because you deserved it; rather, He served you this way because He loves you. That’s remarkable because we know we aren’t always so loveable. All of us are selfish and naturally put ourselves first. We have all treated others badly and hurt them. If God only dealt with us on the basis of how we have dealt with others, we would be in big trouble. But our Father in Heaven deals with us in love, and He sent Jesus to save us because He loves us. Jesus, in His great compassion, saw our need and went willingly to the cross in order to help us with what we needed most: forgiveness of sins and a new and everlasting life in His name.
With His love in our hearts, we can begin to be less selfish and learn to love others as ourselves and as He has first loved us. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Love in Christ is strong and living, Binding faithful hearts in one; Love in Christ is true and giving, May His will in us be done. (LSB 706:1)
-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.
What makes a church “good?” Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.
