In just eleven weeks – from December 1521 to... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45

In just eleven weeks – from December 1521 to February 1522 – Martin Luther (1483–1546) translated the New Testament into German at Wartburg Castle near Eisenach. He rendered the last part of today’s Bible verse with the words: “Where the heart is full, the mouth overflows”. With this, he created an expression that is still common today as a proverb. It is true – when a subject excites us, we tell others about it. We can’t hold back; we can’t keep quiet.

If our vacation was great, we rave about it to our colleagues. If our favourite soccer team won unexpectedly, we want everyone to know about it. In the case of people in love, their eyes talk and you can tell by their behaviour what’s going on in their hearts. What occupies our thoughts, we talk about. However, this also applies to bad things. The Bible says: “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).

As Christians, including the writers and publishers of this calendar, we are taken possession of by Jesus Christ. Assured by and filled with Him, we want to speak of Him. He suffered and died for us, He was punished for our sins and He saved us. He urges us, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent” (Acts 18:9)!

When the first Christians once had to justify themselves because they were talking about Jesus, they said, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). And this is still true today! That is why those who believe in Jesus Christ keep urgently asking other people – and therefore you as well – “Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20)!

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 6:19-38 · John 6:1-15