10/31/25

Happy Reformation Day! 508 years ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Church. He, through much prayer, humility, study, and Holy Spirit guidance, was ready to stand strong on salvation by Grace through faith alone. (The following paragraph is from a Britannica article)

Luther’s understanding came to him after a long inner conflict in which he agonized, even despaired, over his inability to marshal his will adequately to do good works. While meditating on The Letter of Paul to the Romans (1:17)—in which the Apostle declares, “For in it [i.e., the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith: as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’”—Luther experienced an illumination that he later described as a kind of conversion. “It was as if the very gates of heaven had opened before me,” he wrote.

A total reliance on God and not upon one's ability is a beautiful thing. However, it often comes with discomfort. Luther experienced this. Yet in the end, you will always be in God's presence.

Ezra was leading a group back to the promised land, yet before he left, he needed to do something.

Ezra 8:21 NASB95 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.

A fast to bring himself and the people to humility before God. Doing this to seek Him and to have a safe journey was a demonstration of total reliance on God. They had the freewill to join in or not, to go or to stay, to fast or to eat, to humble themselves and seek God, or to rely on themselves.

Ezra knew that God had orchestrated this. God had given the name of King Cyrus to Isaiah as the one to decree it 150 years before he was born. So Ezra led the people to seek God before they started. Luther sought God, and God brought the world back into line with His word. Ezra sought God, and He brought the Israelites home to rebuild the temple.

Discomfort was part of it. Adversaries will be met along the way, but when you have sought God and are following His guidance and relying on Him, you end up with God being glorified and you being in His presence.

How often have you set out on your own without God?

How often have you gone against His word and then attempted to justify?

Anytime you do it on your own then seeking God and humility are not part of it. It is instead living in pride.

Stop, pray, fast, study, listen, humble yourself, and follow Christ.

Love Bro. Scott