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What Is Faith?, April 26
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
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It is not essential to the exercise of faith that the feelings should be
wrought up to a high pitch of excitement; neither is it necessary, in order
to gain the hearing of the Lord, that our petitions should be noisy, or
attended with physical exercise.
It is true that Satan frequently creates in the heart of the suppliant
such a conflict with doubt and temptation that strong cries and tears
are involuntarily forced from him; and it is also true that the penitent’s
sense of guilt is sometimes so great that a repentance commensurate
with his sin causes him to experience an agony that finds vent in cries
and groans, which the compassionate Saviour hears with pity. But Jesus
does not fail to answer the silent prayer of faith. He who simply takes
God at His word, and reaches out to connect himself with the Saviour,
will receive His blessing in return.
Faith is not feeling.... True faith is in no sense allied to presump-
tion. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption, for
presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith.
Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience.
Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to
excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust
the love of God and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to
transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from
the consequences of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of
Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be
granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions
of the Scriptures.
To abide in faith is to put aside feeling and selfish desires, to walk
humbly with the Lord, to appropriate His promises, and apply them
to all occasions, believing that God will work out His own plans and
purposes in your heart and life.
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