Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
Our faith is an astounding thing-astounding that I should believe him to be the Son of God who is suspended on the cross, whom I have never seen, with whom I have never become acquainted.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the incredible nature of faith, particularly in believing in Christ's divinity despite not having seen him.
This quote by Martin Luther emphasizes the extraordinary nature of faith, especially in a religious context. It highlights the paradox of believing in the divine figure of Jesus Christ, who endured suffering on the cross, without ever having direct knowledge or acquaintance with him. Luther suggests that such belief is remarkable and profound, showcasing the depth and strength of personal faith.
Themes
FaithBeliefReligionGodChristSuffering
In practice
Example use cases
During a religious sermon about the strength of faith in the unseen.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes →Now if I believe in God's Son and remember that He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the stars, trees, apples, as I reflect that he is Lord over all things. ...God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Martin LutherRead
It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and wellbeing, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ.
Martin LutherRead
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
Martin LutherRead
We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.
Martin LutherRead
In a mouse we admire God's creation and craft work. The same may be said about flies.
Martin LutherRead
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Prayer is the force as real as terrestrial gravity. As a physician, I have seen men, after all other therapy had failed, lifted out of disease and melancholy by the serene effort of prayer. Only in prayer do we achieve that complete and harmonious assembly of body, mind and spirit which gives the frail human reed its unshakable strength.
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