Our Lord Sustains Us
"Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"
MATTHEW 8:26
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Our Lord Sustains Us
When [Peter] walked on the sea and came to Christ, so long as he held to the Word, the water had to bear him up; but when he turned his eyes from Christ and he let go the Word, he saw the wind blowing and he began to sink. Therefore I said we must let go of everything and cling only to the Word; if we have laid hold of that, then let rage and roar the world, death, sin, hell and all misfortune. But if you let go the Word, then you must perish. This we see also in people who seek temporal nourishment. When they have sufficient, and their house and barn are full, they easily trust in God and say they have a gracious God; but when they have nothing they begin to doubt, then their faith vanishes; for they picture before their eyes that there is nothing at hand and no provision in store, and they do not know how they shall exist; thus care and worry drive faith out of the heart. But if they would lay hold of God's Word, they would think thus: My God lives, He assures me He will sustain my life; I will go forth and labor, He will make everything right, as Christ says, Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." If I retained this Word and would cast the other out of my mind, I would not come into need.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Trinity 21 on John 4:6-54 (Luther's Works 79 (Lenker) 5:257-58)
MATTHEW 8:26
+
Our Lord Sustains Us
When [Peter] walked on the sea and came to Christ, so long as he held to the Word, the water had to bear him up; but when he turned his eyes from Christ and he let go the Word, he saw the wind blowing and he began to sink. Therefore I said we must let go of everything and cling only to the Word; if we have laid hold of that, then let rage and roar the world, death, sin, hell and all misfortune. But if you let go the Word, then you must perish. This we see also in people who seek temporal nourishment. When they have sufficient, and their house and barn are full, they easily trust in God and say they have a gracious God; but when they have nothing they begin to doubt, then their faith vanishes; for they picture before their eyes that there is nothing at hand and no provision in store, and they do not know how they shall exist; thus care and worry drive faith out of the heart. But if they would lay hold of God's Word, they would think thus: My God lives, He assures me He will sustain my life; I will go forth and labor, He will make everything right, as Christ says, Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." If I retained this Word and would cast the other out of my mind, I would not come into need.
From the Church Postil, sermon for Trinity 21 on John 4:6-54 (Luther's Works 79 (Lenker) 5:257-58)
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