Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Nehemiah 4:1-14 2nd John 1-13

“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 of the Word, he saw the wind blowing and he began to sink. Therefore I say 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 of the Word, then you will perish. This we see also in people who out of such effort over-seek temporal nourishment. When they have sufficient, and their house and barn are full, they easily trust in God and they will say they have a gracious God; but when they have nothing they have doubts that take over their life, and their faith vanishes. They picture before their eyes that there is nothing at hand nothing in the store house, and do not how they shall exist; and then worry and fear dominate their life.

It is then, that we must lay hold of God’s Word, and think thusly: My God lives, He assures me that He will sustain my life in His manner and way, and things will be may right in His way. As Christ our Lord says in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” If I retained this Word, and would cast the other foolish things out of my mind, I would never be in need, though I might even be hungry.