Played: 46 | Download | Duration: 00:02:34

Justified and Fortified

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:23-24

A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
 For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

With these immortal words Martin Luther captured the truth of our lives here on earth. In Christ we are put right, justified, through faith. God’s grace and love for us demonstrated in Christ is the mighty fortress in which we stand. It is a fortress that will never, ever fail as Paul reminds us in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

This is also true, there is a flood of mortal ills and the ancient foe seeks to work us woe. This relentless assault can discourage us and distract from an eternal perspective. In these times should we ever choose to step outside the fortress taking matters into our own hands…and I can admit that sometimes I do…we are defenseless against the one who is armed with cruel hate.

Thanks be to God for providing us the justification that sets us free and the fortification that keeps us safe. As we celebrate the Reformation that reclaimed this truth for the Church may we never use our freedom to abandon our fortress!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, keep me ever mindful of what you have won for me and the protection that is mine in the face of a relentless enemy. Amen.