Something from ... Martin Luther on God and the devil

When some hardship or disaster enters your life, who is responsible for it?  Did God send it, or was it the devil at work?

It is easy to say, "Everything good is from God, but everything bad is from the devil."  If we hold to this belief, then we may also conclude that there are times when God loses control and the devil has gained the upper hand.

King Solomon wrote, "In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him" (Ecclesiastes 7:14).  Based on this word of God, we come back to the question: When some hardship or disaster enters your life, who is responsible for it?  Did God send it, or was it the devil at work?  The answer is: Yes.

Martin Luther wrote about the devil who seeks to devour and to drive us to despair, but he does not do it apart from God's will.  When evil comes, the devil intends it for harm; God intends to use the devil's evil designs for our good.  Our God is so good and gracious to us that he even employs the devil for our good.

Martin Luther comments on John 15:1-2 to teach us about God's purpose regarding evil that comes into our lives.  Something from Martin Luther: 

"But now God takes him in hand and says: 'Devil, you are indeed a murderer and an evildoer; but I will use you for My purpose.  You shall be My hoe; the world and your following shall by My manure for the fertilization of My vineyard.'  We must surely acknowledge him a great Master, who knows how to employ the devil's and the world's wickedness for the vine's good and not for its harm and ruin, as these intend.  This is what He says about it: 'Your intentions are evil indeed; you are very bitter and angry, and you plot to destroy My vine; but I will and must use you as My tools with which to cultivate and dress the vine.  Therefore cut, chop, and hoe away, but not beyond the bounds that I set.  For you shall go just so far that it will not ruin My vine but will help and improve it.  You shall not fertilize it with mature until it is choked; you shall use only enough to make it sturdy and lush." (pp 195-196.  Luther's Works: American Edition.  Volume 24 -- Sermons on the Gospel of St. John, chapters 14-16.  Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, MO. (c) 1961.)