Daily Luther: God Will Send Stupid Asses
I have exhorted so often, and still exhort, that all who wish to be saved pray diligently, as Christ Himself commands us to pray (Matt. 9:38), that God may grant us faithful laborers and pastors who are sincere and adhere to the Word. Then if God be willing, there will be no danger. For the pulpit can and must alone preserve Baptism, Sacrament, doctrine, articles of faith, and all estates in their purity. However, if we neglect to pray and if we anger God with our security, weariness, and ingratitude, He will send us, instead of St. Paul and all upright pastors, stupid asses who will snatch away both Sacrament and Word, and we lose everything, both in the doctrine and the office.
Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 28: 1 Corinthians 7, 1 Corinthians 15, Lectures on 1 Timothy, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann, 1 Co 7:40 (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999).
In one of Dr. Luther’s sentences above, the idiom, “to pray”, and the word. “ingratitude” both appear.
In thinking of my own prayer life, petitionary prayers (for my own circumstances) and intercessory prayers (for the circumstances of others) come to mind. But, how often do they include prayers of thanksgiving? And, what am I if I remain ungrateful?
If I don’t tell the truth, I am a liar. And, if I take what’s yours, I am a thief. And, if I dare not do what I should, I am a coward. But, what am I when I remain ungrateful?
That makes me an ingrate. And, who wants to be known as such, and how often do we even hear that word anymore?
Let us in the Church not be ingrates, and remember to utter words of thanksgiving in our prayers. For, Dr. Luther has reminded us of the potential consequences of our not doing so.
So very grateful for my pastor and all faithful pastors. It is wonderful to be able to worship and feel safe because of their faithfulness.