THURSDAY
Last week and this week in the devotionals we are looking at some stories of people’s encounters with the presence of God to give us some perspective on the various ways we can experience the presence of God. Last week we are looking at biblical characters. This week we will explore the stories of some believers’ encounters with God in the history of the church.
In a moment that would change the course of church history, Martin Luther sat in the tower of the Augustinian monastery in Wittenberg, wrestling with the meaning of Romans 1:17. The verse that had long tormented him read, "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"
For years Luther had understood God's righteousness as His perfect standard by which He judges sinners. This understanding had led Luther to despair, knowing he could never measure up to such divine perfection. He became a super pious monk in his attempt to live up to God’s righteous standards. Luther famously declared, "If anyone could have gained heaven as a monk, I would certainly have done so. I kept the rule of my order so strictly that I may say that if ever a monk got to heaven by his monkery, it was I. All my brothers in the monastery who knew me will bear me out. If I had kept on any longer, I should have killed myself with vigils, prayers, reading, and other work." He admitted to hating the phrase "righteousness of God," seeing it as a declaration of his own condemnation.
But in that tower, as Luther meditated on this passage, the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to see something revolutionary: the righteousness of God wasn't just God's standard for judgment, but His gift to believers through faith in Christ. This righteousness wasn't something Luther had to achieve; it was something freely given to those who trust in Jesus.
This realization transformed Luther's understanding of salvation. He later wrote that when he grasped this truth, he felt as though he had been "born again" and had "entered paradise itself through open gates." The gospel became clear: we are justified not by our own works or merit, but through faith alone in Christ alone.
What Luther discovered in that tower remains the heartbeat of the gospel - that God's righteousness becomes ours through faith in Jesus. This truth sets us free from the exhausting attempt to earn God's favor and invites us to rest in Christ's finished work.
Reflection
How does understanding righteousness as God's gift rather than just His standard change your approach to your relationship with Him? Where might you still be trying to earn what God freely gives?