Day 305 - Reformation Day
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 during his time at the Wartburg. 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 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.
(The Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, 2006, #582)
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
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
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