The Calling in Your Heart
Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
GALATIANS 4:6
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The Calling in Your Heart
We certainly know that we are poor sinners, but here we must not look at what we are and do, but at what Christ is and has done and still does for us. If you think it is a big thing that you are God's child, do not think it is a small thing that God's Son was born of a woman, born under the Law, so that you could become such a child [of God]. What God does is altogether something great, which gives us great joy and courage and makes spirits undaunted, which are afraid of nothing and can do everything…Therefore, cling firmly to this text. You must feel the calling of the Spirit in your heart. Since it is the calling of your own heart, how could you not feel it?... "The Spirit of God bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16). How, then, should our hearts not feel such calling, groaning, and witness? Temptation and suffering serve this purpose beautifully! They promote such calling out awaken our spirit....If you do not perceive that calling out, then think and do not rest from praying until God grants it.
From the Church Postil, sermon for the Sunday after Christmas on Galatians 4:1—7 (Luther's Works 75:392-93)
GALATIANS 4:6
+
The Calling in Your Heart
We certainly know that we are poor sinners, but here we must not look at what we are and do, but at what Christ is and has done and still does for us. If you think it is a big thing that you are God's child, do not think it is a small thing that God's Son was born of a woman, born under the Law, so that you could become such a child [of God]. What God does is altogether something great, which gives us great joy and courage and makes spirits undaunted, which are afraid of nothing and can do everything…Therefore, cling firmly to this text. You must feel the calling of the Spirit in your heart. Since it is the calling of your own heart, how could you not feel it?... "The Spirit of God bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16). How, then, should our hearts not feel such calling, groaning, and witness? Temptation and suffering serve this purpose beautifully! They promote such calling out awaken our spirit....If you do not perceive that calling out, then think and do not rest from praying until God grants it.
From the Church Postil, sermon for the Sunday after Christmas on Galatians 4:1—7 (Luther's Works 75:392-93)
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