April 4th in Christ

On April 4, 397, Ambrose of Milan, one of the most talented bishops of the early church, died.
A biblical exegete, political theorist, master of Latin eloquence, musician, and teacher, he brought Roman Emperor Theodosius I to his knees in repentance after the emperor ordered a massacre of his citizens, marking the first time the state submitted to the church.
On April 4, 636, Isidore, Spanish scholar and archbishop of Seville, died.
His most extensive and famous work was his Etymologiae (Etymologies), an encyclopedia of early medieval knowledge that used liberal arts and secular learning as the foundation of Christian education.
On April 4, 1507, Martin Luther, future German reformer, was ordained a priest at age 21 in the Roman Catholic church.
This event is a key start to the Reformation, marking his early ecclesiastical role before challenging Catholic doctrines, significant for Protestant history.
On April 4, 1523, Leonard Kopp, a fishmonger, helped 12 nuns escape from a cloister at Nimschen by hiding them in fish barrels.
One, Katherina von Bora, later married Martin Luther, aiding the Reformation by supporting its key figure, a creative and lesser-known moment in Protestant history.
On April 4, 1742, Charles Wesley preached the sermon “Awake, thou that sleepest” to the University of Oxford.
This sermon became Methodism’s most popular tract, shaping evangelical outreach, significant for Methodist development.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and vocal civil rights advocate, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
This event is significant for Christian involvement in social justice, particularly within Protestant circles, highlighting the intersection of faith and civil rights.
James 1:3 - Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].
God bless you in Jesus Christ today!