We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
One article I read told how Dr. King shared at a Chicago church about a year before his death that, “before I was a civil rights leader, I was a preacher of the Gospel. This was my first calling, and it still remains my greatest commitment.”
It’s no surprise, then, that many of the things Dr. King said and the beliefs he held reflected things in the Bible.
Here are a few examples of things Dr. King said that connected with Scripture:
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
- We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed … So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, 16 ESV)
Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
- Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
- For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV)
Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a permanent attitude.
- And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25 ESV)
- Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)
- Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV)
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
- Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12 NIV)
- Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18 NIV)
- If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20 ESV)
Dr. King was an imperfect person (as we all are), but he had big dreams for people and was willing to speak out about them despite being ridiculed and persecuted.
I don’t pretend to be an expert on him, his messages, or the time during which he lived. But I admire his boldness and his commitments to his beliefs. There are things for me to learn from that, especially when I find myself shying away from saying or doing something. There are times I worry more about what other people think than what I believe is right or true.
I’m sure Dr. King faced some of these same struggles within himself, yet he didn’t let them stop him from stepping out and speaking up.
How can we step out and speak up?
We all have issues that are close to our hearts and things we believe could be better. Chances are, the people affected by those issues probably wouldn’t mind if more of us stepped up and spoke out on their behalf.
What is it for you? Is it time to follow Dr. King’s advice and step out in faith toward something even if you don’t know where it might lead?
If something came to mind, maybe it’s time to say “yes.” Even a small step might lead to amazing change.
Your turn: What’s your favorite quote from Dr. King, and why? Or, is there a small step you can take in faith toward supporting something that’s close to your heart? Leave a comment so we can encourage each other.
MLK: Speaking up and stepping out Share on X