Set Your Conscience Free
He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities.
ISAIAH 53:5
+
Set Your Conscience Free
This fright comes when we see the strict wrath and unwavering seriousness of God toward sin and sinners, since He even did not want to give His own dearest Son to free sinners unless He did full penance for them, as He said, "For the sin of My people I have struck Him" (Isaiah 53:8). What will happen to the sinner, when His dearest Son was struck in that way? An unspeakable and unbearable seriousness must be there when such an immeasurably great person goes to meet it, and suffers and dies for it. If you profoundly reflect on the fact that God's Son, the eternal Wisdom of the Father, Himself suffers, then you will indeed be frightened; the more [you reflect], the more profoundly [you will be frightened]. . . . When one has become aware of his sins in this way and is completely frightened in himself, he must be careful that his sins do not remain in his conscience, or sheer despair will certainly result from it. Rather, just as [the sins] proceeded and were recognized from Christ['s suffering], so we should throw them back on Him and set our conscience free.
From Meditation on the Holy Suffering of Christ (Luther's Works 76:426, 429-30)
ISAIAH 53:5
+
Set Your Conscience Free
This fright comes when we see the strict wrath and unwavering seriousness of God toward sin and sinners, since He even did not want to give His own dearest Son to free sinners unless He did full penance for them, as He said, "For the sin of My people I have struck Him" (Isaiah 53:8). What will happen to the sinner, when His dearest Son was struck in that way? An unspeakable and unbearable seriousness must be there when such an immeasurably great person goes to meet it, and suffers and dies for it. If you profoundly reflect on the fact that God's Son, the eternal Wisdom of the Father, Himself suffers, then you will indeed be frightened; the more [you reflect], the more profoundly [you will be frightened]. . . . When one has become aware of his sins in this way and is completely frightened in himself, he must be careful that his sins do not remain in his conscience, or sheer despair will certainly result from it. Rather, just as [the sins] proceeded and were recognized from Christ['s suffering], so we should throw them back on Him and set our conscience free.
From Meditation on the Holy Suffering of Christ (Luther's Works 76:426, 429-30)
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Not AshamedIn Every RespectWe Are In His HouseHear His VoiceTodayBut You BelieveRest in ChristRest in FaithRest in Christ’s WordConfidence in Our Great High PriestOur Eternal High PriestCalled by GracePerfect Through SufferingA Little MilkFoundationGod Comes to UsFaith in ChristObtaining the PromiseThe King of PeaceBlessed by the SuperiorA Priest Forever in ChristThe Forever PriestA Better HopeOur Eternal IntercessorOur Perfect High PriestOur Eternal High PriestThe Better Covenant in ChristA New CovenantPromises KeptOnly The High PriestNot the Blood of Goats
February
Only at DeathOnce and For AllImpossibleThe Perfect SacrificeThe Once-for-All SacrificeOnce for AllForgiven Once for AllDraw Near with a True HeartA Fearful ThingRemembering with JoyEnduranceOf Things Not SeenBecause of LoveBy FaithThe Builder is GodAs Good As DeadStrangers HereFaith in the God Who ProvidesFaith Looks Beyond the PresentBy Faith, Not FearBy Faith, Not by SightFaith That EnduresPerfected in ChristEyes on JesusDisciplineCast His Eye On YouIt HurtsWeak Knees
March
Strive for PeaceNo Fire For YouMount ZionAn Unshakable KingdomA Kingdom That Cannot Be ShakenBrotherly Love in ChristConfidence in ChristSteadfast in ChristOutside the CampSacrifices of PraiseJoyful Obedience in ChristPray for Your PastorsEquipped by the Blood of ChristEncouragement in ChristGrace Be With You AllGod’s Sovereign HandFaithful in a Foreign LandFaithful in the Small ThingsTrusting GodWisdom from AboveEarthly Wisdom Fails, But Christ ReignsTrue Wisdom and the CrossThe Wisdom of Man FailsConfidence in God's MercyGod of Mercy and MightA Deliverer Sent by GodNo Wisdom but ChristThe Kingdom That EnduresThe Rock That Stands ForeverEarthly Kingdoms CrumbleThe Kingdom That Stands Forever