Devotion: Luther & The Power of Trust
Luther & The Power of Trust
Please take a moment to read Romans 1:16-17 & 3:21-28
I have admired Martin Luther since 2014. That is when I first traveled to Wittenberg, Germany to visit his home and church. I walked in his steps throughout Germany and soon found I had a lot in common with his wife, Katie. So when I got this assignment to write about resiliency and faith, I knew what to say.
He did not have an easy life, far from it. He was a disappointment to his father who wanted him to become a lawyer. And if you believe the story, lightning convinced him to become a monk. He was a thorn in the side of the Pope and the Catholic Church. He was a rebel who needed to be kidnapped for his own good to thwart death threats. One of his famous quotes that fits this topic is, “If you want to change the world, pick up a pen and write!” As a former writing teacher of middle school students, this is a particular favorite of mine. His radical 95 Theses rocked the world and changed the church of 1517, and ignited the Reformation. Some would say he had grit…he endured and grew because of his hardships.
His outlook on life was altered when he studied the New Testament. The Old Testament convicted him and filled him with self-loathing.
Reading Romans, the scripture for this week, transformed him. It is not what we do in life, but how we trust in God to see us through all those rough times. He said, “Before every great opportunity, God gave me a great trial.” During his marriage, he feared for his life daily, buried two beloved children, endured the plague, and suffered from gout, kidney stones and financial troubles. But he endured because “faith is active through love.”
He trusted in God. He had a support system surrounding him who trusted him. His wife, children, students, friends, and colleagues knew they could trust him because he was trustworthy. He lived Romans 3:28, “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by law.” That word ‘apart’ tells a whole story. We are not saved by works, but by faith. And we receive grace through faith alone.
As Lutherans, we remember this when we strive for the good life. Doing good comes from being a good person and trusting God to help us passionately pursue our calling. Another Luther quote, “God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does!”
And on that note, one last Luther quote, “The fewer the words, the better the prayer!”
Dear Lord,
Thank you, and give us grit to do your glory! Amen
Written by Cindy Swanson
Cindy and her husband, Ray, have been members of Sheridan Lutheran Church since 1978. They have three sons, Ben, Andrew and Patrick who were confirmed at Sheridan. They enjoy spending time with their grandchildren who range in age from 4-10. Cindy retired from teaching writing to middle schoolers for Lincoln Public Schools in 2014. She savors a good cup of coffee, a well-written book, a lively discussion and chocolate. She lives near a cemetery and knows each day is a gift!