Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: 2nd Samuel 18:1-19:10 John 20:1-31 Proverbs 16:14-15

“Christian Boasting”

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance…”
[Romans 5:3]

Paul shows what true Christian boasting is, namely, to boast, rejoice, and be proud in suffering, shame, weakness, etc. The world only regards Christians as the most despicable of men; but with vehemence and what it regards as righteous zeal it hates, persecutes, condemns, and kills them as a dangerous menace to both the spiritual and earthly realm, in other words, as heretics and revolutionaries. But because they are not suffering on account of murder, stealing, and other such crimes, but on account of Christ, whose blessings and glory they proclaim, they glory in their afflictions and on the cross of Christ. With the apostles they “rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ” [Acts 5:41].