Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Daniel 9:1-11:1 1st John 2:18-3:6 Proverbs 28:27-28

“Joy and Peace through Faith”

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
[Romans 15:13]

This is the Apostle’s meaning: may God produce hope through the Gospel, may He give you grace, so that you work with and believe the Gospel, from which you come to know Christ the most deeply. From that, may you then have all joy and a good conscience, as from a common blessing, and then also peace among one another. This joy and peace is not what the world gives through feeling and experience, but through believing, for you neither see nor feel the One who is your blessing, from whom you have joy and peace. In the world, however, you will feel strife and grief. But when you learn that Christ is common for everyone, and equally for all, then you will have a good peace. There is nothing that one can begrudge another, for you are all equally rich. There is joy and peace through faith or in faith … the Holy Spirit graces us and strengthens our hope, so that we do not flee nor fear the misfortunes of the world, but rather stand firm even to death and overcome all evil.