Martin Luther the Monk

Wednesday, October 30

Bible Verse:

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.”

— Micah 7:18-20 (EHV)

Devotion:

Before Martin Luther became famous for helping people understand the Bible, he was a monk. That means he lived in a monastery, spending his days praying, reading the Bible, and trying to live a holy life. But even though he prayed a lot and tried to be good, Martin still felt sad inside. He thought he had to be perfect to make God happy. No matter how hard he tried, he never felt like he was good enough, and it weighed on his heart.

One day, while reading the Bible, Martin found a wonderful truth—God loves us, not because we are perfect, but because Jesus was perfect for us! This truth made him feel free, just like the Bible says. We don’t have to work hard to make God love us. He already does because of Jesus! Martin realized that his efforts wouldn’t save him, but Jesus already had. It changed how Martin saw everything. From that point on, he dedicated his life to sharing the good news that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Questions to think about:

1. What made Martin Luther feel sad before he learned the truth about Jesus?

2. How does knowing God loves us because of Jesus make you feel?

3. Why is it important to remember that we don’t have to be perfect to make God happy?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank You for loving us because of Jesus. Help me to remember that Your love is a free gift, and I don’t have to earn it. Amen.

Activity Idea:

Draw a picture of Martin Luther as a monk, looking sad before he learned the truth about God’s love.