All of us owe a great debt to Martin Luther King Jr. For all his shortcomings, he had the courage to stand up against injustice without resorting to violence. America is much closer to living out its ideals because he was willing to lay down his life for God’s cause.

But this precious treasure — this light and power that now shine within us — is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be obvious in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you.  (2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NLT)

I hope Monday, the federal holiday set aside to commemorate King’s life and death for the cause of civil rights, will be more than just another day for you. God’s intention is that each of us find the cause he created us to pursue and then give ourselves body and soul for the advancement of his Kingdom.

Until you know what Kingdom cause you are willing to die for and have set your face resolutely toward that goal, you aren’t experiencing the life God intends you to have.

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In Search Of Freedom: Excerpts From His Most Memorable Speeches

Martin Luther King Jr. – I Have a Dream

Update 1/22/08: Louisiana Baptists — both black and white — gather to honor MLK. Read about it here.