Fourteen Consolations- LW42 閱讀摘要

讀完路德的Fourten Consolations之後,覺得有些內容不錯,就把它摘錄下來,可以再想一想:

To everyone is given temptation according to a measure and never beyond his strength. It is written in Psalm 80 [:5], “You shall feed us with the bread of tears, and for our drink give us tears in full measure.” Paul says, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, so that you may be able to bear it” [I Cor. 10:13]. Therefore, where there is greater evil, there is also more divine help and a way of escape, so that the inequality of suffering appears to be greater than it really is.

In reality, our sufferings are the beginning of our freedom as our death is the beginning of life. It is this which Christ says in John 8 [:51], “Whoever will keep my word shall never see death.” How shall he not see it? Because in his death he enters upon life, so that because of the life that he sees he is not able to see death. Here the night shines as the day [Ps. 139:12], since the dawning life is brighter than the waning death. This is assured not for the unbelievers, but for all who believe in Christ.

Christians certainly have the greatest blessings of all awaiting them in the future. However, these are attained only through sufferings and death.

Therefore, when we feel pain, when we suffer, when we die, let us turn to this, firmly believing and certain that it is not we alone, but Christ and the church who are in pain and are suffering and dying with us. Christ does not want us to be alone on the road of death, from which all men shrink. Indeed, we set out upon the road of suffering and death accompanied by the entire church. Actually, the church bears it more bravely than we do. Thus we can truthfully apply to ourselves the words Elisha spoke to his fearful servants, “Fear not, for those who are with us are more numerous than those with them. And Elisha prayed and said, ‘Lord, open the eyes of the young man that he may see.’ And the Lord opened his eyes and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha” [II Kings 6:16–17].

All that remains for us now is to pray that our eyes, that is, the eyes of our faith, may be opened that we may see the church around us. Then there will be nothing for us to fear, as is also said in Psalm 125 [:2], “As mountains are round about it, so the Lord is round about his people, from this time forth and forever.” Amen.