April 8, 2004 Maundy Thursday	Read Matthew 25:31-45
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, you inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you gave me clothing; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.”
FAITH BREEDS ACTION As Lutherans, we believe we are saved by faith alone and that faith comes through the grace of God.  Salvation is not the result of how many good deeds we do, but rather is an outcome of our abiding faith in Jesus Christ.  That doesn’t mean Lutheran theology advises us to sit quietly on the sidelines of life, just waiting for divine grace to shine upon us.  We believe that faith will, of necessity, produce action.  Luther once explained it this way:  “Faith is a busy, living, mighty, active thing, so that before anyone asks if good works are to be done, faith is already doing them.” The passage for today’s devotion is a snapshot of how serious God is about the way in which we live our lives.  He says that when we serve others, it’s the same as if we were serving him.  If we ignore the needs of others, we are ignoring Jesus himself. Have we followed the Golden Rule? – “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”  We must be willing to give when others take; to love when others hate; to give up our own rights, if necessary, in order to protect the rights of others.  This is easier said than done, especially in a society that encourages “an eye for an eye” attitude, but when will the vicious cycle stop?  The motto WWJD, What Would Jesus Do, comes to mind.  We are not perfect and certainly could never compare to Jesus in doing the right thing, but  shouldn’t we try? So what’s the good news?  The good news is that eternal salvation is ours in faith, and it is a privilege of the faithful to share this good news with others.  Dear Heavenly Father, confidence in our faith, and in you, is all we need to share the good news of eternal life.  Bless us, O Lord, as we share your good news with the world, one simple act at a time. DOTTIE CAPLAN

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