journey onWord with us

“Dnes pečete hus, ale přijde labuť, kterou nebudete moci upéci.” (original Czech language)

“Today you burn a goose, but in one hundred years a swan will arise which you will prove unable to boil or roast.”

These words are believed to have been said by Jan Hus, a Bohemian reformer on the occasion of his martyr on July 6, 1415. He was burned at the stake, being judged guilty of the charge of heresy against the doctrine of the Catholic Church. The reference he made to himself seems odd, but was, in fact, a literal translation of his surname that was based on the town of his birth (Husinec, meaning “Goosetown”). It would take a century to understand the latter reference.

Martin Luther (and many others) would eventually come to see himself as the swan Hus spoke of. If one looks closely at the pulpits of many Lutheran churches, they would see a swan carved prominently. Martin Luther, a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation, had followed Jan Hus in his quest to reform the Roman Catholic Church.

It’s important to remember the sacrifices of those who came before us, but infinitely more so to remember the One for whom their sacrifices were made. How should the lives and sacrifices of the early church reformers effect our lives today? How should we choose to live in light their sacrifices, and for the One who sacrificed His life for them and us first? With our whole self and an unwavering commitment to be in God’s word daily, trusting our Heavenly Father for whatever today or tomorrow will bring. All while living the greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, then love our neighbor as He loved us first.

Geese and swans pointing the way to The Lamb. This is what they were … and we can be.

Perhaps today, as a part of being in God’s word, you can mediate on these things HE is:

• Almighty One – Rev. 1:8
• Alpha and Omega – Rev.22:13
• Advocate – Hebrews 12:2
• Authority – Matthew 28:18
• Bread of Life – John 6:35
• Beloved Son of God – Matthew 3:17
• Bridegroom – Matthew 9:15
• Chief Cornerstone – Psalms 118:22
• Deliverer – 1 Thessalonians 1:10
• Faithful and True – Revelation 19:11
• Good Shepherd – John 10:11
• Great High Priest – Hebrews 4:14
• Head of the church – Ephesians 1:22
• Holy Servant – Acts 4:29,30
• I Am – John 8:58
• Immanuel – Isaiah 7:14
• Indescribable Gift – 2 Corinthians 9:15
• Judge – Acts 10:42
• Kings of Kings – Revelation 17:14