Five Minutes a Day with Luther - 12-15-2009

[Five Minutes with Luther]

FIVE MINUTES A DAY WITH LUTHER

** Now available in book form: http://lcmssermons.com/about5mins.php **


December 15

Psalm 119:99-100 I have more insight than all my teachers, For
Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the
aged, Because I have observed Thy precepts.

* * *

He who has made himself master of the principles and text of the
Word runs little risk of committing errors. A theologian should
be thoroughly in possession of the basis and source of faith,
that is to say, the Holy Scriptures. It was armed with this
knowledge that I confounded and silenced all my adversaries; for
they do not seek to fathom and understand the Scriptures. They
pass them over negligently and drowsily; they speak, they write,
and they teach, according to the suggestion of their heedless
imaginations. My counsel is, that we draw water from the true
source and foundation, that is, that we diligently search the
Scriptures. He who wholly possesses the text of the Bible, is a
consummate divine. One single verse, one sentence of the text,
is of far more instruction than a whole host of glosses and
commentaries, which are neither strongly penetrating nor an
armor for defense. For example, when I have that text of St.
Paul before me: "For everything created by God is good, and
nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude;"
this text shows that what God has made is good. Now eating,
drinking, marrying, etc., are of God's making, therefore they
are good. Yet the glosses of the primitive fathers are disagree
with this text: for Bernard, Basil, Jerome, and others, have
written to far other purpose. But I prefer the text to them
all, though, in the papacy, the glosses were deemed of higher
value than the bright and clear text.

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord!
Be Thou forever near;
Teach me to love Thy sacred Word,
And view My Savior there.

---
Cuda.
aka Pastor Robin Fish
Lutheran to the core -- and just a little beyond.

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These daily readings are now available in book form;
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