Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Isaiah 25:1-33:9 Galatians 3:10-5:12 Proverbs 23:17-22

“The Yoke of Christ”

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
[Galatians 5:1]

The yoke of Christ is a summons to take the cross, and to put the old man to death. Now, His cross is easy once the burden of the Law – that is, sin and death – has been lifted. For if you believe that you are righteous and alive before God, that you are a son and heir of heaven, soon you will say: “If God is for me, who can be against me?” [Romans 8:31] “Death where is your sting? Where is your victory?” [1st Corinthians 15:55] For what can do any harm when God is so beneficent and gentle? Look at the martyrs, how they laugh at their punishments. Why? Because of the confidence and freedom of their heart … how wonderful is Christ’s power on His saints, that in the hearts of human beings, through faith, He changes death into laughter, punishment into joy, hell into heaven. This is what Christ calls the easy yoke, and the light burden: that is, bearing the cross with joy.