Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
You may as well quit reading and hearing the Word of God, and give it to the devil, if you do not desire to live according to it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Living according to the teachings of the Word of God is essential; otherwise, it's better not to engage with it at all.
In this quote, Martin Luther emphasizes the importance of following the teachings found in the Word of God. He suggests that if one is not willing to live by these principles, then engaging with them is pointless, equating such disregard to offering the teachings to the devil. This highlights the belief that true faith and understanding require active commitment and application in one's life.
Themes
FaithCommitmentBeliefLivingWord Of God
In practice
Example use cases
During a sermon, when discussing the importance of adhering to religious teachings.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes βNow 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
Similar quotes
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
It is best to act with confidence, no matter how little right you have to it.
Lillian HellmanRead
When you were straight, evil thoughts and memories came pouring up out of the darkness inside you; buzzing black flies clinging to the insides of your skull.
J. K. RowlingRead
The person who dumps garbage into your mind will do you considerably more harm than the person who dumps garbage on your floor, because each load of mind garbage negatively impacts your possibilities and lowers your expectations.
Zig ZiglarRead
Nothing has been purchased more dearly than the little bit of reason and sense of freedom which now constitutes our pride.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
It's helpful to remind yourself that meditation is about opening and relaxing with whatever arises, without picking and choosing.
Pema ChodronRead