November 10, 2023 | Martin Luther – Day 50

“There is no solid joy in this world except the joy which the Word affords the man who believes it.”

Martin Luther

 

 

Sometimes I wonder if people truly understand what a blessing God’s Word is. Within its pages are all the secrets of life. If everyone were to believe in God’s Word and follow every lesson it teaches, I wonder how the world would be different. Would there still be hunger? Would we have to lock our doors at night? Would we want for anything?

 

Martin Luther became defined for His faith in God’s Word. As he stood before the Diet at Worms, he risked his life defending his writings because everything he had written could be backed up by the holy Words God had given us. He challenged those who wished for him to recant his writings that if they could find anything that wasn’t supported by Scripture, he would recant. He never had to.

 

God wishes all of us to put the same trust in His Word as Luther did, so that we might also feel the joy that Luther was so blessed to uncover. He could relate with Psalm 119:162 that says, “I rejoice at your Word, as one who finds great spoil,” or from earlier in the same chapter in verse 111, “I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are a joy to my heart.”

 

God’s Word was given to us, not simply to receive instruction from, but so that we might also receive the joy that comes from believing everything that had been written. The Gospel means “good news.” From the Old Testament to the new, we hear about the Savior who would come to save us from the sin that we had inherited from Adam. Because of that, joy is in every utterance.

 

True joy is found where Christ is proclaimed. From Philippians 1:18, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.” So, open God’s Word and believe that it was written for you so that you may abound in joy.

 

Today, begin a journal of joy sourced in Scripture. Write down all the reasons you have for joy based on what you read and learn through faith to let your cup overflow with the goodness of God.

 

Our Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us enough to give us Your Word so that we might remain in relationship with you. Fill our hearts with joy in every reading and help us to walk a path of faith in it words. Amen.