Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
      • Dear Friend in Christ
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Events
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to All Daily Grace

In the best light

4.4.2023
|
Daily Grace

In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther’s explanation of the eighth commandment – you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor – provides helpful guidance. It reads: “We are to fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead, we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 1161). Following Luther’s guidance requires us to move beyond the automatic survival-based judging of our emotional brain to the slower learning and choices of our thinking brain.

Luther invites us to interpret our neighbor’s actions in the best possible light. At an interpersonal level, this could mean giving a child, partner, or colleague the benefit of the doubt. At a societal level, it could mean making a commitment to listen and learn about others who are different from us – particularly people of other faiths. It also means trying to understand others as they want to be understood.

This message is excerpted from “Snap judgment” by Bev Stratton in the April 2018 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Benedict the African, confessor, 1589.

Special note: The Daily Grace app will soon be retired. To avoid interruption, those who read Daily Grace in the app are encouraged to subscribe to receive Daily Grace via email.


If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.

Share
No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sign up for Daily Grace

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message.

Women of the ELCA
30 May
Women of the ELCA
@WomenoftheELCA

One day left to double your impact! Tomorrow marks the end of our matching gift opportunity. Your generosity today can empower women for years to come. Double your gift (and learn more) at lnkd.in/dYRNfcJy. #KatiesFund2122 #ActBoldly #GiveBoldly #WeAreWELCA pic.twitter.com/W7HY3apLlO

Expand reply reply retweet retweet favorite favorite
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2023 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.