Christmas with Luther

According to at least 3 people (Dido, CRich, and my mother in law), my first post about Talby was a huge success. This blog has a small, but devoted, fan base. To balance my posts out, I decided to write on something a bit more serious. Over Christmas, I had the opportunity to read Martin Luther's Christmas book. It is a short little book that includes several of Luther's sermons on the birth of Jesus Christ. I always enjoy reading it. There is something about the way he talks and writes that I absolutely love. He can speak to your heart with conviction on the great matters of eternity and faith and he can also cause you to bust out laughing because of a joke or a witty jab at his enemies. Another reason why I love Luther, is his complete and total honesty. He openly shares his past struggles with sin, doubt, superstition, and fear as well as his present failures. It is his honesty and his knowledge of the power of the Gospel to deliver from all Satan's devices that make his words so powerful. When the famous Christian, John Bunyan, was struggling to find assurance of his own salvation, he found comfort in Luther's commentary to Galatians. Bunyan was amazed that a man that lived 100 years ago seemed to experience the same things in his own soul, which caused Bunyan to say that, "There is no better book for a wounded conscience than Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians." Bunyan was comforted to know that he was not alone in his experience.

And so as I was reading the Christmas book, I came across a section where Luther said that he was burdened over the coldness of his own heart when he hears the story of Christ's birth, saying: "I hate myself because when I see Christ laid in the manger, in the lap of his mother, and hear the angels sing, my heart does not leap into flame. With what good reason should we all despise ourselves that we remain so cold when this word is spoken to us over which all men should dance and leap and burn for joy!" I don't know about you, but often I find myself in the same place as Luther. Knowing the truths of the Gospel yet not truly rejoicing in them. This reminded me that it is ok, to be really happy about Christ and His salvation. It is good to have your heart on fire. It might even be ok to dance because the gospel is so sweet. While I was comforted from Luther's experiences, I was also encouraged to repent.
So, if you are like me, learn from Luther. Let's be honest with ourselves, God, and others. Let's rejoice in the Gospel. And, in those times when God's face shines upon us and our hearts are filled with joy, let's not be afraid to express it.