Plan Four: Courageous FearSýnishorn

COURAGEOUS FEAR…INSTILLED MARTIN LUTHER’S COURAGE

When the lowly monk, Martin Luther, was summoned to Worms to appear before the emperor and pope, it was to recant his writings that had exposed their centuries-old corruption. He declared with courage and conviction, “Take warning from the examples of Pharaoh, the king of Babylon, and the kings of Israel. God it is who confounds the wise. I must walk in the fear of the Lord.” He concluded, “I am bound to the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and will not retract anything.” Then he uttered those famous words: “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

Luther’s was not a newly found reverence for God. Instead, it had been part of his being from the beginning of his theological training. According to author Eric Metaxas, Luther reflected on conducting his first Mass years earlier, writing:

“At these words [the liturgy of the Mass, which he read] I was utterly stupefied and terror-stricken. ...With what tongue shall I address such Majesty, seeing that all men ought to tremble in the presence of even an earthly prince? Who am I, that I should lift up mine eyes or raise my hands to the divine Majesty? The angels surround Him. At His nod the earth trembles. ...For I am dust and ashes and full of sin and I am speaking to the living, eternal, and true God.”

Metaxas further stated:

“There isn’t a historian the last five centuries who could argue against the idea that Luther’s stand that day at Worms, before the assembled powers of the empire, and against the theological, political and ecclesiastical order that had reigned for centuries, and therefore against the whole of the medieval world—was one of the most significant moments in history.”

Little did this humble monk know that his courageous words, born of his courageous fear of the Lord, spoken before the amassed political and religious powers 500 years ago, would upend the world as it was, launch a spiritual and political revolution known as the Protestant Reformation, and change the course of history and civilization. The power of courageous fear!

This Bible plan contains excerpts from Nathan Carlson’s book, “Fearing God.” We hope it and the other devotionals in the “Fear of the Lord” series have blessed you. For more information, go to: www.fearofthelord.net.