Friday Quote of the Day

I've decided that every Friday I'm going to post some words from the great Martin Luther...most of them will come for "Day by Day We Magnify Thee" (published at one time by Fortress Press), but I might put up some others from the Concordia as well...so enjoy!

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one judgeth him: the word that I have spoke, the same shall judge him in the last day. John XII. 48.

The dear Lord sees what poor and wretched people we are. Unless we have the treasure of the holy Gospel, on error always trumbles over another.
And again, when we have the Gospel a far more dreadful calamity occurs, namely, that every man despises it, and the few accept it for their betterment. Hence we are thoroughly poor and wretched people. If God withhold His word from us, we cannot live without it, without suffering detriment to our souls. On the other hand, if He grants it, nobody wants it. Hence there is nothing better than that the Lord God should hasten the Last Day, to smite everything into a heap, for the ungrateful world will not be helped either by grave or punishment.
Therefore He admonishes us again and appoints another dat saying: 'Today, if you will hear HIs voice, harden not your hearts'. Behold every day is 'Today!' and God calls and appeals to us not to miss the opportunity.
And it is right for us to thank Gad most deeply for such grace, that He comes so near to us, abides with us, in our homes, at our table, at our bedside and wherever we want HIm, offering and presenting us all His help, and all things which we may ask of Him. Yes, we ought to treasure and honour this dear guest because He stays with us." -- Martin Luther (Sermon on Ephsians v. 15-21) We Magnify Thee page 111.