Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Spent some time in church, in meditation and in prayer. It was a beautiful weekend here in Orange, Texas. Plants are really budding out and spring looks like it is here.

Along with spring comes my time for going to the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church Course of Study School. It is a continuing education opportunity for me and we delve into Theology, Administration, Spiritual Growth and many other topics which concern the role of being Pastor.

The course I am enrolled in this semester is “Our Theological Heritage: Reformation” where we delve mostly into Martin Luther’s influence but also delve into others such as Zwingli, Calvin, Bucher, Wycliffe and the disagreement between the Protestant movement and the Catholic Church.

In our discussion Martin Luther’s transformation from a work’s driven Monk to a Grace filled reformer gave me pause to think.  I thought about how many of us in Church today have the mentality that the things we do in Church are what earns us God’s Grace.  Martin Luther was struggling with being able to live a Holy enough life to earn God’s grace but never felt like he did.  He was a monk who followed the rules and did the things expected of good monks but always felt like he was falling short of the mark.  He tells us that what exposed him to the overwhelming grace of God was his meditation of Romans 1:17.

Good News Bible – Rom 1:17

  For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live.”  

Martin Luther realized that his righteousness was not about what he could make himself do it was about believing in God and what He can do through you.  Martin Luther came to the realization that having faith in God comes first and having faith in God is all that we need to have.   The work that our faith will drive us to do will be what God calls us to do when He is ready for us to do it.  Our faith will help us to live the life God calls us too.  All we have to do is be ready and willing to hear His call and that is acting out our faith.  Faith first, second, third, etc., etc. to the last.  Acting upon our faith leads us into the work God will call us to do.  Our faith helps us to realize that the Grace God has for us is there whether we acknowledge it or not and there no matter what we do.  God loves us. That is what Martin Luther realized and is why his actions changed the world for ever.

God loves you and me.  That is the Good News!