Exhortation Station

A few months ago, Mom came across a quote by Martin Luther in a book she was reading.  I looked it up online and thought it contained some great nuggets for pondering.  Here it is:

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved. And to be steady on all the battle fields besides is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” — Martin Luther

Wow.  Though not Scripture, I think this quote contains insights that we would do well to pay attention to.  If we speak out boldly against murder, lying, stealing, cheating, adultery, idol worship, etc. but do not take a clear stance when confronted with issues such as abortion and homosexuality, are we truly confessing Yahshua Messiah?  If a soldier claims allegiance to a king and fights boldly in the easy battles but shrinks back when confronted with one that “hits close to home,” what do that soldier’s actions say about his degree of allegiance to the king? 

In Matthew 10:32-33, Yahshua said, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”  This is a sobering statement.  Notice He says, “before men.”  The real test of our faith in Yahshua isn’t when we’re with fellow Believers in Messiah — the real test is when we’re out there in the world, in a situation where standing for truth might be seen as weird or outdated.  Recall the Scriptures picture us as “earthen vessels” (Isaiah 45:9, 2 Corinthians 4:7).  I suppose even a clay pot might think itself strong when it is sitting neatly on the shelf among other, similar vessels.  It’s easy for us to feel strong when nothing appears to be at stake…but what if standing for truth will cost us our job, our friends, or our popularity?

We are indeed earthen vessels, but take courage!  2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of Elohim and not from ourselves.”  If we surrender to Yah, He can use us, earthen vessels as we are, to display His power.  May Yah give us the humility and strength to implore Him for help so that when “that little point” arises, we will respond courageously with the truth.

(Bible passages NASB; Hebrew transl. added.)

References:

“A Quote By Martin Luther”. Goodreads.Com, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/657155-if-i-profess-with-the-loudest-voice-and-clearest-exposition. Accessed January 22, 2020.