Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Deut. 29:1-30:20 Luke 11:37-12:7 Proverbs 12:19-20

“A Beautiful Faith”

“Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.”
[Matthew 9:22]

Behold, that is a beautiful faith, which realizes its unworthiness, and yet does not permit itself to be hindered on this account to place its confidence in Christ, nor to doubt His grace and help, but breaks through the Law and everything that frightens it away from Him; yes, though the whole world would attempt to hinder and thwart, yet it does not think of leaving this man until it has laid hold on Him. Therefore, it presses though all barriers and attains what it seeks in Christ, and immediately experiences the power and work of Christ, even before He begins to speak. For it cannot apply to Christ in vain, even as Christ Himself testifies, when He says: “thy faith has made thee whole.” Besides, faith like this is so pleasing to Christ that He does not wish it to remain concealed in her and that the power and work made effective by it should remain a secret, but what is in her heart must be published to everybody so that her faith may be praised before the whole world and be strengthened in her.