Holy Week - Maundy Thursday

Welcome to Luther, for the busy man, the week of Holy Week, Thursday, our scripture

reading comes from the book of Romans chapter 15 verses 1 through 6.

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the week and not to

please ourselves.

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.

For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of those who

reproached you fell on me.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction that through

endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one

another in accord with Christ Jesus that together you may with one voice glorify the God

and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our scripture lesson comes from the book of Galatians chapter 6 verse 2.

Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Not the least part of love or self surrender is for me to be able to give away my self-conceit

or arrogance.

I can no doubt give my neighbor temporal good and bodily service with my painstaking toil.

I can also serve him with instruction and intercession, for example by visiting him

and consoling him when he is sick or sad.

I can feed him when he is hungry, free him from imprisonment and such like.

But the greatest of all the services I can render my neighbor is bearing his weakness.

We will always fall short of the Markier.

We will never attain to the perfection of Christ in this regard.

He is the pure bright sun in which there is no mist.

Our light is just like a glimmering stalk of straw in comparison with his son.

Christ is a glowing oven full of fire and perfect love, but he is still satisfied with

our little candle.

If we provide some sort of evidence of letting our love shine forth.

Take a look at the Gospel record and see how Christ dealt with his disciples.

He bore with them when they were guilty of foolish conduct and even when they at times

went astray.

In their service his wisdom yielded to their folly.

He did not condemn them but bore their weakness with long suffering patience.

What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.

He tells them on one occasion in John 137, through such love he gives up his righteousness,

judgment, might, wrath, punishment and the rights he has over us and our sins.

He could condemn us because of our folly, but he does know more than to say, you are in

the wrong, you do not know anything, do not however reject me, but trust me.

And so I say that it is no small example of love to be able to bear with our neighbor

when he is weak in faith and love.

Let us pray.

Dear Lord Jesus, fill our hearts at all times with such a love for our neighbor that

we understand his weaknesses and needs and continue to bear with him.

For your name's sake, Amen.

Find the print version of the Luther for the Busyman Daily Devotional at ambassadorpublications.org.

Luther for the Busyman is produced by the free Lutheran Bible College and seminary in

Plymouth, Minnesota.

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Ground it in God's Word.