Luther (2003): Courage Given, Not Generated - Lutheran (Joshua 1:9)

Picture a dimly lit room in the Worms Cathedral, heavy with the weight of history and the murmur of anxious souls. It’s April 18, 1521, and in the center of this tense gathering stands a man with a heart pounding against his chest. Martin Luther, a simple monk, is surrounded by formidable church leaders and political figures, each wielding authority like a sword. The air is thick with anticipation, and the stakes could not be higher. He knows that declaring his beliefs could cost him everything—his life, his reputation, his very future.

Yet, as he steps forward, it’s not bravado that courses through him but a profound sense of truth. “Here I stand. I can do no other.” These words are not just a declaration of defiance; they are a testament to the courage given to him by something far greater than himself. Luther’s courage wasn’t conjured from within; it was birthed from the Word of God. It was the promise that echoed in his heart, “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

In that moment, Luther stood not as an isolated figure but as a vessel of divine strength. His confidence was anchored in the Word that promised God's presence. Imagine the faces around him—some skeptical, some seething with anger, but among them, the quiet awe of a divine truth emerging through a human voice. Luther’s stand became a beacon, illuminating the darkness of fear with the light of God’s unwavering love.

Beloved, like Luther, we too are invited to stand firm, not through our own strength but through the Word that holds us. Courage is not something we manufacture through positive affirmations; it is a gift we receive, a promise that assures us: God is always with us. Lean into this promise, for it is in receiving this courage that we learn to walk boldly in faith, just as Luther did in the face of giants.