Futile Things

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.
PSALM 33:10-11
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Futile Things
What makes Christ bold and fills His enemies with dismay is not the work of man but of God, to whom Christ is obedient; for it is futile to set yourself against God. It is the experience of Christians that if they put their reliance in God, their enemies, with all their wrath, will not be able to harm them; for He holds their hearts in His hand and controls all their thoughts. Psalm 33:10 confirms this: "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to naught; He frustrates the plans of the people." Despite emperor and pope the Lord our God can easily thwart the plans they have against us in their hearts. A roadblock has been placed in their path, and it bears the name: "I defy you to carry out your plans and plots." . . . It is bad to combat enemies who cause you to lose heart. If I have that power over an opponent, I have soon defeated him. His resistance will be short-lived. Thus God, too, makes His enemies lose courage and heart, and fills them with despair. At the same time He grants courage to those who rely on Him but are timid and dejected, and He enables them to carry out their plans.

From Sermons on John 6-8 (Luther's Works 23:221)
May 4
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