Daily Devotional

But, like so many since that time, the imperial party looked only upon that which can be seen, and rallied to that which the majority was doing. Their confidence was in the cause of the emperor and the pope, which was strong, while that of the Reformers seemed weak.

But as the hour of His betrayal and arrest was closing in, sin’s terrible weight pressed upon His soul. Its darkness and horror was to come down fully upon His shoulders bringing the long-anticipated and indescribably painful separation from His Father. Jesus would die of a broken heart.

Another Jesus is being preached in the world. This false christ has deceptively altered or omitted numerous foundational teachings in the Word while claiming authority to make such changes. On a massive scale, all across the world, these deceptive alterations are being accepted without question.

Amazingly, this persecution was accompanied by explosive church growth. The original faith spread like wildfire. The very intensity of the persecution of those days kept the church free from nominal Christians.

“Thou hast placed thy Word before me like a torch, and Thou hast touched my heart, in order that I may hold in abomination all other merits save those of Jesus!”

He became convicted of sin while realizing the powerlessness of the ceremonies and rituals to atone for that sin.