Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

Christian history is filled with those made courageous by gospel hope.

One such example is the great German reformer Martin Luther. He is certainly one who knew fear and tragedy. But he also knew the power of Christ to overcome these. When the plague hit the university town of Wittenberg in August 1527, the pastor and reformer along with his wife Katharina maintained their post, ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of those suffering. Katharina was pregnant at the time, but they opened their home to the sick and needy.

How could they do this? Well, their hope was in the God of Psalm 46.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea…

History suggests to us that it was about this time that Luther wrote his most famous hymn based on this Psalm. The opening lines declare:

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing

Later he goes on to end his hymn with the following:

Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also:
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

The gospel gives us courage that goes beyond the troubles and terrors of this world, because the gospel gives us an eternal God who is our unfailing defender.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.”

~ Psalm 46:1-7 (ESV)