Greetings to you in the name of the “Word made flesh”…the living Word, Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! We seem to have a typical last day of October…cool temperatures, a good breeze, cloudy skies, and a hint of rain, but it is a still a day that God designed for us! I trust that you had a good weekend and Monday…enjoying a measure of health and strength and a happy heart as you walked with God. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to make Himself known to you in the midst of the ordinariness of your day…may He make every moment vibrate with His joy, peace, grace, and mercy.
Happy October 31st! – ‘All Hallow’s Eve’! ….and Happy Birthday to all the protestants! Today is a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation that was initiated by Martin Luther. I have had opportunity to mention this a few times over the last week or so, doing so because it is significant. We have a religious tradition that has for a foundation five “solas” – we are saved by grace alone, through Christ alone, by faith alone, for God’s glory alone, on the authority of God’s Word alone. Thanks, Martin Luther!
Yesterday I received a new translation of the New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Solomon…the Passion Translation. I have been enjoying Psalms already–you have probably noticed. As I held that book in my hands, I did not realise how closely tied it was to the Reformation. I could have that Scripture in my hands – in print and in English because of John Wycliffe – who translated the Bible into English, so that William Tyndale could have it printed on the first of the Gutenberg printing presses, so that a rebel priest-John Hus could read and understand, so that Martin Luther could read and understand the five solas–initiating the Protestant Reformation.
It all started with a new translation of God’s Word – the Holy Scriptures – the Bible! So here I stand with a new translation in my hands that ties me to a series of events and people beginning almost 700 years ago with John Wycliffe. Just to add to the significance – many of those pioneers of faith lost their lives in order to make this possible. In those days if you were ‘unliked’ you were executed without a ‘tweet’ or a ‘twitter’. The process, the personalities, and the price of translating the Bible into English has been forgotten, but because of the 500 year birthday of the Reformation – I hold a new translation in my hands with much respect and a greater appreciation.
Have a great day!