October 22, 2021

To the LORD our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. . . . for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.  Daniel 9:9,17,18b

In his unexpected friendly captivity, Martin had a flood of mixed feelings. For a brief time he rejoiced over the sudden release from the tumult of battle. But the condition of the church filled his heart with despair. Fervently, he cried out to God on behalf of His people! Then he wondered if his disappearance would seem cowardly. Knowing that it was God’s providence that had saved him from the counterfeit certificate of safe-passage and the subsequent edict, he rebuked himself for his selfish thoughts.

But all the while, not content to be idle, the ink from his pen never stopped flowing. A veritable host of tracts circulated throughout Germany, proclaiming the gospel and rebuking the errors of the times. This tangible proof that Luther was still alive and active thrilled those whose eyes had been opened to God’s Word. On the other hand, it astonished and confounded his enemies who had earlier celebrated that surely he had been silenced for good.

It was during this period that Luther translated the New Testament into German. Not a moment of this precious time in confinement was wasted! Another spiritual benefit for the new believers was the directing of attention of the people directly toward God and away from the human instrument He happened to be using at the time, as people have a tendency to extol the instrument, setting their affections upon a mere man. Satan exploits this human tendency in order to divert men’s thoughts and affections away from God.

Beloved, as long as we are living in this fallen world, we must be keenly conscious of how the created can be placed—in our minds—ahead of the Creator. What we see right in front of our eyes may seem to be the most dazzling or influential sight! But we must remember that our loved ones, or even an angel from heaven, are created beings. In humility, let each of us live for Him who created and redeemed us—all out of His desire to spend eternity with all of His beloved. We are instruments in His divine hand for pointing people toward the Savior!

As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” Acts 10:25-26