"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - Day 304 - (Today’s Bible readings: Reformation Day Revelation 14:6–7; Psalm 46; Romans. 3:19–28; John 8:31–36)
A TIME TO SPEAK
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ... a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7 ESV)
Today is Reformation Day, a very special day in Christendom. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther spoke for the truths of God’s Word when he nailed 95 theses for debate on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany, sparking the Reformation.
In 1521, when his life was in danger, Luther was given safe haven in the Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament. This was the first time that the Bible was translated into the language of people.
Luther could not keep silent about what he had discovered in his study of the Bible, especially the book of Romans that emphasizes the glorious Gospel truth that we are saved by faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)
As it was in Luther’s day, so it is today. It is a time to speak about Jesus and His gifts of forgiveness and heaven that He freely offers to all who repent and believe!
God's Word is our great heritage
And shall be ours forever;
To spread its light from age to age
Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way,
In death it is our stay.
Lord, grant, while worlds endure,
We keep its teachings pure
throughout all generations.
(Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, 2006, #582)
Please watch this video. It gives an excellent overview of the Reformation and the fact that we stand IN CHRIST ALONE.
Heavenly Father, thank You for restoring the saving gospel to the Church. May I, like Luther, also speak of the promises You have for all people in Jesus. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
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