MLK Jr. is arguably king of the inspirational and quotable. Decades later, his legacy continues to be celebrated; his impassioned wise words preserved footprints, trailed through generations.
This quote, cherry picked from a vast library, resonates with me—
I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world.
This is the end of life.
The end of life is not to be happy.
The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain.
The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may.
I believe he spoke these words with a picture of Jesus in mind. I imagine, he thought, what is the meaning of life if not in service to the One who gave it? And so, following in the footsteps of He who came thousands of years before, MLK stood firmly for what he believed, fighting for justice, and (doing everything possible on his part to) live at with everyone.
Never compromising his faith for the sake of politics or culture, he pursued righteousness, and from the overflow of what I am sure were many hours in a prayer closet, the world saw a man brazenly bold even, and especially in the face of opposition.
His movement was an answer to the cry of many and if ever there was a revolutionary voice, it was his. Many would say the name MLK is synonymous with social justice and civil rights, and I agree. But he was so much more. The standout for me is the consistent thread of love, hope, and compassion both in his speech and approach. The first, love, set him apart. He was set on love. Jesus said, I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you, too, should love one another. By this shall everyone know you are my disciples.
Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.
The Bible says in Matthew 12:34, for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Dr. King traversed harsh terrains with truth girded, heartfelt fighting words, hoping for the hard-fought reality of equality and freedom.
We still have a way to go, but what one man dreamt is now lived by many.
In so many ways, his words above (the first quote) bear a stunning similarity to Jesus’ words, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. Sir Martin knew God’s will for his life, and wholly accepted it.
If MLK were a tree, he sure produced good and lasting fruits.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
Dear Lord –
Our will sprouts from the flesh, which we know is prone to selfish desires. Though the world offers beautiful things, it’s all temporal. Help us to stay focused and not get swept away in awe of the wrong things. We all have a God given purpose. We surrender to you, Lord, and ask for the boldness to live out your will for our lives. Amen.
Romans 12:18
John 13:34-35
Matthew 12:34 (GNT)
Luke 22:42
Photo: AllPosters via @pinterest
WateredSeed 