Martin Luther was born on the 10th of November 1483 and to celebrate his birthday I share with you ten profound quotes of his. They are still relevant over 500 years later. How come? Because only eternal things have lasting value.

Luther preached Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). He reminded us of what is essential: we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He pointed us to the cross. He encouraged us to focus on Christ.  He encouraged us to fight the good fight of faith.

Here are my ten favorite Martin Luther quotes. What is yours?

So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!

This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.

Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God–
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!

The heart overflows with gladness, and leaps and dances for the joy it has found in God. In this experience the Holy Spirit is active, and has taught us in the flash of a moment the deep secret of joy. You will have as much joy and laughter in life as you have faith in God.

This grace of God is a very great, strong, mighty and active thing. It does not lie asleep in the soul. Grace hears, leads, drives, draws, changes, works all in man, and lets itself be distinctly felt and experienced. It is hidden, but its works are evident.

The heavenly blessing is to be delivered from the law, sin and death; to be justified and quickened to life: to have peace with God; to have a faithful heart, a joyful conscience, a spiritual consolation; to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ; to have the gift of prophecy, and the revelation of the Scriptures; to have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and to rejoice in God.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.

His righteousness rises above the sins of all men; His life is more powerful than all death; His salvation is more unconquerable than all hell.

God alone can create and preserve faith in us. God creates faith in us through the Word. He increases, strengthens and confirms faith in us through His word. Hence the best service that anybody can render God is diligently to hear and read God’s Word.

We must pray and do our daily work, but everything we do must flow from faith.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for reminding us what is essential.
Thank you for creating and preserving faith in us.
Thank you for saving us by grace and not by works.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

P.S. My twitter feed will be full of shorter Martin Luther quotes today. Check it out!

Q4U: What is your favorite one of Martin Luther quotes?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you daily embrace God’s grace!

Image courtesy of  Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.