“The Table of Duties”

Conclusion of Our Review

We began in our newsletter months a review of, “The Table of Duties. ”We conclude our review by looking at the duties for the young, widows, and all Christians. As you read through the final duties below, I encourage you to remember the context that we established in the first newsletter article –that is -good works don’t save –Jesus’ good works, death, and resurrection given to us by grace alone through faith alone do. God doesn’t need our good works, but our neighbor does. These serve as a guide for good works in the Christian life, but are not steps that make us Christians. Furthermore, we really must give God the credit, not only for our salvation by faith alone, but for our good works too that spring from the fountain of faith. As God via St. Paul says in Ephesians 2: ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (ESV). With that said, I leave you to learn and enjoy the conclusion of, “The Table of Duties.” For Young Persons in General: Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time. 1Peter 5:5-6. For Widows: She that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 1 Timothy 5:5-6. For All in Common: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Herein are comprehended all the commandments. Romans 13:8ff And persevere in prayer for all men. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Let each his lesson learn with care, and all the household well shall fare. ¹

In Christ,

Pastor

P.S. Home Devotional Resources: http://mlchouston.org/about-us/memorial-moment & http://steadfastlutherans.org/2017/02/lambs-at-pasture-daily-devotions-for-the-family/

¹ Table of Duties from http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#tableofduties