Five Minutes Daily with Luther - June 24

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 2:4.

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And coming to Him as to a living stone. Here he falls back again upon the Scripture, and quotes the prophet Isaiah, where he also says, chapter 28: “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,’” etc. This passage Paul has also quoted, and it is an important passage of Scripture, for Christ is the precious Cornerstone which God has laid, on which we must be built. Christ, the living stone, bears up the whole building; and it is called the building, in order that we, bound one to another, may set our confidence and security on Him. Rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God. Here he brings forward a passage of the prophet David, in (Ps 118:22-23):“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” So also Peter, in (Acts 4), where he says: “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone.” You are builders, he says: for they taught the people, went about with great speeches, laid down many laws, but made mere work-saints and hypocrites. Therefore Peter says, This is the corner stone which indeed was rejected of men, upon which you must be built by faith. This is now wonderful in our eyes, as the prophet says; it seems strange to us, and where the Spirit does not teach it, it is utterly incomprehensible. Therefore he says, in God’s eyes the stone is chosen, and an extremely precious stone; it is also of great importance that it takes away death, satisfies for sin, and rescues from hell, and besides all of that, it freely bestows heaven.

Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all!

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - June 22

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. 1 Peter 2:2.

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Here he institutes a comparison, and would say: You are to be like those newborn babies who seek nothing but the milk; like them, striving for the breasts and milk, so you too, be eager for the Word; endeavor for it, have an appetite for it, that you may receive the intelligible, sincere milk. These words are, indeed, figurative; for he did not mean literal milk, or literal drinking, as he does not speak of a literal birth. But he speaks of another milk which belongs to the mind, which is spiritual, which is procured by the soul, which the heart must draw in. It must be, moreover, sincere (or unfalsified) , not as the custom is, to sell false wares; since there is truly strong obligation, and great necessity, that to the newborn and young Christian, the milk should be given pure and not corrupted. But this milk is nothing but the Gospel, which is also the same with seed, whereby we are conceived and born, as we have heard above. Yet it is also the food which nourishes us when we arrive at maturity; it is also the harness wherewith we equip and clothe ourselves — yes, it is all these at the same time. But whatever is appended to it is human doctrine, whereby the Word of God is falsified; therefore the Holy Spirit would have it so that every Christian shall see to it, what he drinks, and shall himself learn to decide in regard to all doctrines.

Lord, open Thou my heart to hear,
And through Thy Word to me draw near,
Let me Thy Word e’er pure retain,
Let me Thy child and heir remain.

Thy Word doth deeply move the heart,
Thy Word doth perfect health impart,
Thy Word my soul with joy doth bless,
Thy Word brings peace and blessedness.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - June 20

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:24-25.

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That which is flesh and blood is corruptible, like the grass which is yet green, so that it blooms; so whatever is rich, strong, wise, and fair, and thus is flourishing (which all belongs to the bloom), yet you observe its bloom wither; what was young and vigorous will become old and ugly; what is rich will become poor, and the like. And all must fall by the Word of God. But this seed cannot perish. Peter concludes: And this is the word which was preached to you. As though he would say, you are not to look far in order to reach the Word of God; you have it before your eyes; the Word is that which we preach, with this you may subdue all evil lusts. You are not to seek it from afar; you have nothing more to do than fully to take hold of it when it is preached. As when I hear that Jesus Christ died to take away my sins, and has purchased heaven for me, and bestows upon me all that He has, then I hear the Gospel. This truth no creature can overthrow, the clearest reasoning avails nothing against it; and if I, too, would strike the devil while I am in his jaws, I must abide completely by the Word. Therefore he well says, you must look for no other Gospel than that which we have preached to you.

To us the sacred Word apply
With sovereign power and energy;
And may we, in Thy faith and fear,
Reduce to practice what we hear.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - May 13

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.Galatians 5:17.

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When Paul says that the flesh sets it desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, he admonishes us so that we might sense the concupiscence of the flesh, that is to say, not only carnal lust, but also pride, wrath, heaviness, impatience, incredulity, and the like. Even though he would have us sense them, he would not have us consent to them, nor accomplish them; that is, that we neither think, speak, nor do those things which the flesh provokes in us. For example, if it moves us to anger, then we should be angry in this manner, as we are taught in the fourth Psalm, so that we do not sin. As if Paul would say: I know that the flesh will provoke you to wrath, envy, doubting, incredulity, and such; but resist it by the Spirit, that you do not sin. But if you forsake the guiding of the Spirit, and follow the flesh, you shall fulfill the lusts of the flesh, and you shall die. So here Paul is speaking not only of the lusts of the flesh, but of the whole kingdom of sin. These two leaders, says Paul, the flesh and the Spirit, are set one against another in your body, so that you cannot do what you please. Paul speaks these words to the believing Christians, who have been justified, renewed, and have full forgiveness of sins. Yet notwithstanding, he says that the flesh rebels against the Spirit in them. In the same way he speaks of himself in the seventh chapter of Romans: “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” But this must be our anchor-hold, that Christ is our only and perfect righteousness.

Thy grace first made me feel my sin,
It taught me to believe;
Then, in believing, peace I found,
And now I live, I live!

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - May 6

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. Galatians 5:10.

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This is as if he would say, I have taught, admonished, and reproved you enough so that you should listen to me: nevertheless, I hope well for you in the Lord. Here some raise a question, whether Paul does well when he says he has a good hope or trust in the Galatians, seeing the Holy Scripture forbids any trust to be put in men. Both faith and love have their trust and belief, but different sorts, on account of the difference between their objects. Faith trusts in God, and therefore it cannot be deceived; love believes men, and therefore is often deceived. Now this faith that springs from love is necessary to this present life, for if one man would not believe and trust another, what sort of life would we live upon earth? The true Christians do sooner believe and give credit through love, than the children of this world do. For faith towards men is a fruit of the Spirit, or of Christian Faith in the godly. In this sense, Paul had a trust in the Galatians, yes, even though they were fallen from his doctrine: but were still in the Lord. That is, so far as the Lord was in them and they in the Lord; in other words, as long as they abode in the truth. But, if they fell away from the truth, seduced by the ministers of Satan, he would trust them no more. Paul has a good hope that they will not receive any other doctrine which shall be contrary to his. But those who were troubling the Galatians would bear their condemnation, no matter how important they were in the eyes of men, for one little point of doctrine is of more value than heaven and earth.

Courage then, for all things must
Work for good, and bless us,
If we but in prayerful trust
To His Son address us.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - April 29

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. Galatians 5:3.

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The first injury borne is indeed very great, where Paul says that Christ is of no benefit to those who are circumcised. Then he adds this also, he says that those who are circumcised are under obligation to keep the whole Law. These words may be expounded in two ways, negatively and affirmatively. Negatively in this way: Paul testifies that every man who is circumcised performs no part of the Law; yes, that in the very work of circumcision he actually is not circumcised, and even by the fulfilling of the Law, he actually does not fulfill it but transgresses against it. This is Paul’s simple and plain meaning. In the sixth chapter he explains himself like this: “Those who are circumcised, do not even keep the Law themselves.” So also in the third chapter: “for as many are of the works of the Law, are under a curse.” He means to say: “Although you are circumcised, yet you are not righteous and free from the Law; and the more you work at satisfying the Law, and try to be set free by means of it, the more you entangle and snare yourselves in the burden of it, so that it has more power to accuse and condemn you. The affirmative exposition is this: He who is circumcised is also obligated to keep the entire Law. For anyone who accepts Moses in one point, must of necessity accept him in every point. And it does not help one whit to say that circumcision is ‘necessary’, and not the rest of Moses’ Laws. For by precisely the same reason that you are required to keep the Law of circumcision, you are also required to keep all of the Jewish ceremonies and Laws concerning foods, and places, and festivals; and Christ must be looked for as yet to come.

I know that sin and guilt combine
To reign o’er every thought of mine,
And turn from good to ill;
I know that when I try to be
Upright, and just, and true to Thee,
I am a sinner still!

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - March 7

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. Galatians 3:7.

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This is the general argument and whole disputation of Paul against the Jews, that those who believe are the children of Abraham, and not merely those who are born of his flesh and his blood (Rom. 9:7-8). This disputation Paul emphasizes, for the greatest confidence and glory of the Jews was: “We are the seed and children of Abraham. He was circumcised and kept the Law, therefore, if we are to be the true children of Abraham, we must follow our father,” etc. It was no doubt an excellent glory and dignity to be of the seed of Abraham, for no man could deny that God spoke to the seed and of the seed of Abraham. But this prerogative did not profit the unbelieving Jews. For this reason Paul labors against this argument, and wrests from the Jews this strong faith in themselves. So Paul reasons as follows against the Jews: You say, “We are the seed of Abraham. Abraham was circumcised and kept the Law; we do the same.” All of this I grant, but will you expect to be justified and saved on that account? Not so. But let us come to the Patriarch Abraham himself, and let us see by what means he was justified and saved. There is no doubt that it was not for his excellent virtues and holy works, nor because he was circumcised and kept the Law, but because he believed. Wherefore he was not justified by any other means than by faith alone. Since this is true according to the testimony of Scripture, why do you stand so upon circumcision and the Law, contending that you have righteousness and salvation thereby, when Abraham himself, your father, your fountain and headspring, in whom you glory so much, was justified and saved without these, by faith alone?

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him, who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - January 28

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

"As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed" Galatians 1:9.

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In this verse Paul repeats the same thing again, only changing the persons. Before he cursed himself, his brethren, and an angel from heaven. Here he says, If there are any besides us who preach to you any other Gospel than that which you have received from us, let them also be accursed. This shows exceedingly great fervency of spirit in the Apostle, that he dares to curse all teachers throughout the whole world and in heaven who alter his Gospel and teach any other; all men must either believe that Gospel that Paul preached, or else they must be accursed and condemned. The changing of persons is here to be marked. Paul speaks otherwise in the first cursing than he does in the second. In the first he says, “But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you”; in the second, “a gospel contrary to that which you received.” And this he does, lest the Galatians should say, We did not alter the Gospel that you preached unto us; we simply did not understand you rightly, but the teachers who came after you have declared to us the true meaning. This, Paul says, I will in no case admit. They ought to add nothing to it, nor correct it, for that which you heard of me is the sincere Word of God; this alone must remain. Neither do I desire myself to be another sort of teacher than I was, nor you other disciples. For this reason, if you hear any man bringing any other Gospel than the one you have heard from me, or bragging that he will deliver better things than you have received from me, let him and his disciples be both accursed. Paul here subjects himself and an angel from heaven, all doctors upon earth, and all other teachers and masters whatsoever, under the authority of the Scripture. No doctrine ought to be taught or heard in the Church other than the pure Word of God.

Within Thy temple when they stand,
To teach the truth as taught by Thee,
Savior, like stars in Thy right hand,
Let all Thy Church’s pastors be.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - January 21

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

"and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia"
Galatians 1:2.

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These words are to stop the mouths of those false apostles; for all Paul’s arguments tend to the advancing and magnifying of his ministry, and, contrariwise, to the discrediting of theirs. It is as if he would say: “Although it is enough that I, through a divine calling, am sent as an Apostle by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him up from the dead; yet, lest I should be alone, I add besides, that all the brethren, who are not Apostles, but fellow-soldiers, write this Epistle as well as I, and bear witness with me that my doctrine is true and godly. For this reason we are sure that Christ is present with us and that He teaches and speaks in the midst of us and in our church. As for the false apostles, if they are anything, they are sent either of men, or by men; but I am sent of God the Father, and by Jesus Christ, who is our Life and Resurrection. My other brethren are sent from God; although, it is true, by man, that is, by me. Therefore, lest they might say that I only set myself proudly against them, I have my brethren with me, all of one mind, as faithful witnesses, who think, write, and teach the exact same thing that I do.” Unto the churches of Galatia. In these words Paul wishes to show that the false apostles would not endanger themselves to go to Jerusalem, to Caiaphas, or to Rome, to the Emperor, or to other places where no man had preached before, as Paul and the other Apostles did; but they went into Galatia, which was won unto Christ already by the labor and travail of Paul, and into Asia, Corinth, and such other places, where good men were, who professed the name of Christ, and where they, the enemies of Christ’s cross, might live in great security, and without any persecution.

Send men whose eyes have seen the King
Men in whose ears His sweet words ring;
Send such Thy lost ones home to bring;
Send them where Thou wilt come.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - January 14

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

"Make me understand the way of Thy precepts: so I will meditate on Thy wonders. . . . Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul observes them" Psalm 119:27, 129.

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Christ says: “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” Here one might ask, What mystery is that? The mysteries of the kingdom of God are the sorts of things which lie hidden in the kingdom of God; as does Christ with all His graces, whom He has shown to us. He who knows Christ aright, knows what God’s kingdom is, and what may be found there. It is called a mystery, because it is secret and hidden from human senses and reason where the Holy Ghost does notreveal it; for although many hear and discern it, yet, notwithstanding, they never conceive nor understand it. They hear of Christ and speak of Christ, that He has given Himself to death for our sins, but those truths are only upon their tongues and in their ears, but not in their hearts, for they neither believe them nor are able to truly comprehend them, as St. Paul says: “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God.” Therefore Christ says: “To you it is given to know,” that is, the Spirit of God gives it to you, so that you not only hear and see it, but you receive it within your hearts and believe it, therefore it is no mystery or secret to you. But to those who have not faith in their heart, though they hear it, to them it remains a mystery.

Father, in us Thy Son reveal;
Teach us to know and do Thy will;
Thy saving power and love display,
And guide us to the realms of day.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - December 31

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might” Ephesians 6:10.

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The life of a human creature is an on-going war on earth. A Christian must be a soldier, always striving and fighting with the enemy. St. Paul describes the weapons of a Christian (Ephesians 6). Firstly, the girdle of truth: that is, the confession of the pure doctrine of the Gospel, which is sincere, not a hypocritical or a feigned faith. Secondly, the breastplate of righteousness: the righteousness of faith, and of the remission of sins, the faith of which Moses speaks (Genesis 15): “And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” Thirdly, the shoes with which the feet are shod: the works of our calling; namely, the fruits of faith. Fourthly, the shield of faith: Christ Himself and His atoning blood, whom we must hold before the fiery arrows of the enemy. Fifthly, the helmet of salvation: that is, the hope of everlasting life. Sixthly, the sword of the Spirit: that is, the Word of God and prayer, for just as the lion is frightened by nothing more than the crowing of a rooster, so the devil can be overcome and vanquished with nothing other than with the Word of God and prayer, and of this Christ Himself has given us an example.

From strength to strength go on,
Wrestle, and fight, and pray;
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day.

Still let the Spirit cry
In all His soldiers, “Come,”
Till Christ the Lord descends from high,
And takes the conquerors home.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - December 24

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

“And is this the custom of man, O Lord God?” 2 Samuel 7:19.

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The truth that Christ is God and man is above human reason and understanding. For when we try to bring the two natures in Christ (the divine and human) into one person, then human wisdom, reason, and understanding are startled, and say: How can this be? We do not understand it. But it is not written that you should understand and comprehend it with your natural sense and wisdom, but you must yield yourself captive and believe the Word of the Gospel through the operation of the Holy Ghost, and give God the honor that is due Him, that He is true and cannot lie. St. Paul says: “The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him . . . . For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:14, 16). And Christ says: “if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name” (John 16:23). “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” (Matt 21:22). “all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you” (Mark 6:24). Here Christ speaks as one who has all in His power, who can give everything which a man prays for in faith.

The everlasting Son
Incarnate deigns to be;
Himself a servant’s form puts on,
To set His people free.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - December 17

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

“Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path. . . . I have inherited Thy testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart” Psalm 119:105,111.

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I prove that the Bible is the Word of God as follows; All things that have been and now are in the world, including how things now stand and transpire in the world, these things were written in some detail at the beginning, in the first Book of Moses concerning the Creation. And just as God made and created it, even so it was, and even so it stands to this present day. And although King Alexander the Great, the kingdom of Egypt, the empire of Babel, the Persian, Grecian, and Roman monarchs, the Emperors Julius and Augustus, most fiercely raged and swelled against this book, utterly to suppress and destroy it; yet notwithstanding, they could not prevail at all: they are all gone and vanished; but this Book has remained throughout time, and will remain unmoved, in full and ample manner, as it was written at the first. But who kept it and preserved it from such great and raging power, or who defends it still? Truly no human creature, but only God Himself, who is the right Master thereof; and it is a great wonder that it has been so long kept and preserved, for the devil and the world are great enemies of it. The devil (doubtless) has destroyed many good books in the Church, as he has rooted out and slain many saints, concerning whom we have now no knowledge. But the Bible he has left untouched. Homer, Virgil, and others like them, are profitable and ancient books, but in comparison with the Bible, they are as nothing.

But still Thy Law and Gospel, Lord,
Have lessons more divine;
Not earth stands firmer than Thy Word,
Nor stars so nobly shine.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - December 10

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

“Those who follow after wickedness draw near; They are far from Thy law. Thou art near, O LORD, And all Thy commandments are truth” Psalm 119:150-151.

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Dr. Justus Jonas told Dr. Martin Luther of a noble and powerful Misnian, who above all things occupied himself in amassing gold and silver, and was so buried in darkness, that he gave no heed to the five books of Moses, and had even said to Duke John Frederic, who was discoursing with him upon the Gospel: “Sir, the Gospel pays no interest.” “Have you no grains?” interposed Luther, and then told this fable: A lion making a great feast, invited all the beasts, and with them some swine. When all manner of dainties were set before the guests, the swine asked: “Have you no grains?” Even so in these days, continued the doctor, it is with our epicureans. We preachers set before them the most dainty and costly dishes, as everlasting salvation, the remission of sins, and God’s grace; but they, like swine, turn up their snouts, and ask for guilders; offer a cow nutmeg, and she will reject it for old hay. This reminds me of the answer of certain parishioners to their minister, who had been earnestly exhorting them to come and listen to the Word of God. “Well,” said they, “if you will tap a good barrel of beer for us, we’ll come with all our hearts and hear you.” The Gospel at Wittenberg is like to the rain which, falling upon a river, produces little effect; but descending upon a dry, thirsty soil, renders it fertile.

Bread of our souls, whereon we feed,
True manna from on high;
Our guide and chart, wherein we read
Of realms beyond the sky:
Lord, grant us all aright to learn
The wisdom it imparts;
And to its heavenly teaching turn.
With simple, childlike hearts.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - October 15

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

“And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.

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In these words Christ shows what eternal life is. He says: Eternal life is this — and My disciples shall receive it in this way — “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” Let him who would walk safely flee and avoid all those things which natural reason and human thoughts are accustomed to advance concerning this article; for there is no counsel and wisdom that can avail against the seducing delusions of the devil, nor anything but our having a steady faith in the plain and simple words of the Scriptures, not at all relying upon our own thoughts and speculations, but saying: Whatever Christ has said must be true, although it may be beyond my comprehension, or that of any other mortal, how it can be true. For it is utterly impossible that human reason should grasp even the least article of faith. Nor can any mortal have any right thought or sure knowledge of God whatsoever, without the Word of God. The farther and more deeply human reason goes in the investigation of God, His works, His will, and His counsel, the farther it gets from the knowledge of them, until it comes at last to know nothing and to believe nothing of God at all. Here you see the words are plain: Christ gives to all who believe eternal life; but no one can give eternal life except God only; wherefore it must incontrovertibly follow that Christ is truly and naturally God.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call;
The God incarnate, Man divine:
And crown Him Lord of all!

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - October 8

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." Jude 14-15

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God from the beginning of the world has left it to some to make His Word known (the Word that promises His favor and salvation to believers, but threatens the unbelieving with judgment and condemnation), even till Christ’s coming down from heaven, when it is openly preached to the whole world. But before the birth of Christ God took to Himself for this purpose only a single line from Adam to Abraham, and from there to David down to Mary the mother of Christ, who possessed His Word. Thus also this father, Enoch, insisted on that Word of God which he received from his father, Adam, and which he had of the Holy Spirit. Enoch prophesied: Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all. This can only be said of the last day, on which He will come with all His saints to execute judgment, and He names those who shall suffer under this judgment. He at once strikes upon their life and preaching, and would say this much: They speak fiercely and harshly against the Lord who is to come. They are shameless and proud, they deride and revile Him. These godless ones the Lord will punish (he says) because their preaching is shameless and presumptuous. Thus has Enoch struck in this passage at the very state which should be in the world before the last day, as we now see it before our eyes.

Our foes, O God, are in Thy hand,
Thou knowest their endeavor;
But only give us strength to stand,
And let us waver never,
Though reason strives with faith, and still
It fears to wholly trust Thy will,
And sees not Thy salvation.

Five Minutes Daily with Luther - October 1

(Reprinted with permission from Five Minutes Daily with Luther: Daily Lessons from the Writings of Martin Luther, by John Theodore Mueller.)

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, . . . Jude 3-4a.

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This is as much as to say: I need to write to you so that I may remind and admonish you how you should proceed and persevere in the faith, which has already previously been preached to you. In other words, it is necessary that I should admonish you to be on your guard and remain in the right way. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. For this reason I will remind you (he says) that you might remain in the faith which you have heard, because there is even now a wavering, and already there have come preachers who establish other doctrines besides faith, by which people are led away gently and unsuspectingly from the true way. This we now well understand, since we know that no one is righteous and justified by works of his own, but only through faith in Christ, to the end that he must rely on the work of Christ as his chief good. Wherever anyone secretly introduces anything else other than this doctrine of faith in regard to such orders and works, he leads the people astray, so that they will be condemned along with him.

In vain would boasting reason find
The path to happiness and God;
Her weak directions leave the mind
Bewildered in a doubtful road.

The various forms that men devise,
To shake my faith with treacherous art,
I scorn as vanity and lies,
And bind Thy Gospel to my heart.