Stand Firm Then - September 17, 2010

Daily Reading

Daniel 10-12

Daily Verse

He said, "Daniel, you who are highly esteemed,

consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you,

and stand up, for I have now been sent to you."

And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

Daniel 10:11

Daily Thought

The Church sold forgiveness of sins. People sin a lot, so the Church became wealthy and built big cathedrals.

The trouble began when Martin Luther read God's Word.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
--Romans 1:17

Faith is a gift, so righteousness is free. You don't buy forgiveness. Martin Luther posted this on the door of the Church.

The Church liked its big cathedrals and asked Martin Luther to retract his statement.

But Martin Luther had read God's Word.

"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason, my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me."
--Martin Luther, April 18, 1521

Stand firm then.
--Romans 6:14

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Righteous God of grace, in Your holiness, You cannot look on my sin. I must be completely clean to be in Your presence, and I am not clean. But Your Son got down on His knees and washed me. In humility, he took my dirt and exchanged it for His righteousness. What a wonderful Savior.

My God, after all Jesus has done, how could I dare try to become righteous by myself. Not only is it impossible, but it insults the work of Your Son on the cross. Instead, I bow before Your Son, call Him my Lord and Savior, and receive with joy His gift of salvation.

Amen.