Troubled times? New Covid outbreaks? This is all we hear!
Fear everywhere! What is the truth? What can we believe?
What can we tell our children?
I was raised a Lutheran and attended parochial school until the eighth grade. I have wonderful memories growing up surrounded by pastors and teachers that opened up the Word every morning in class and introduced us to the simple principles of knowing God. When it came to “faith”, I struggled to understand how it worked.
“Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they speak and hear much about faith. ‘Faith is not enough’, they say. ‘You must do good work’s; you must be devout to be saved.’ They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working, creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, ‘I believe.’ That is what they think true faith is. But, because this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything from it, so it does nothing and rebirth doesn’t come from this ‘faith’, either.
Instead, faith is God’s work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. Jn.1: 13 It kills the old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good works, even though he does not know what faith and good works are. Yet, he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many words.
What will we tell them?
FAITH is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it! Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly, and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise God who has shown you such grace (no entitlements or expectations!). Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire. Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they’re smart enough to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools.”
Genesis 6:5 gives us a clear understanding of our desperate need for faith and regeneration.
“The Lord saw the the wickedness of man was great on the earth,
and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
During this time of Thanksgiving and rehearsing the birth of our Lord and Savior,
will you ask God to work FAITH in you…?
(This text was translated for Project Wittenberg by Robert E. Smith
and was written by Martin Luther and found in his German bible of 1522.)
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
