Martin Luther died at age 62 on this date in 1546. A piece of paper was found at his side on which he had written, “We are beggars, that is true.”
Live long enough and you begin to see your stature decline. In our heady days we imagined that the world revolved around us but sooner or later we see it going past us, leaving us to realize that we’re simply one more person among the masses. As we decline, God’s stature rises, or it should. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides You.” (Psalm 73:25) Even our good aspirations, our praise-worthy deeds, the things we’ve set our hearts on… Those good gifts of God become enemies of heaven if we forget our status as beggars. “Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before You.” (Psalm 143:2)
It may sound extreme, but being done with yourself is the only way that God can begin to fill you with all His goodness. “We are all beggars, that is true.”
Comments