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A Faith That Works, November 9
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
.
When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind.
There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith. The existence and power
of God, the truth of His Word, are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart
deny. The Bible says that “the devils also believe, and tremble” (
James 2:19
); but
this is not faith. Where there is not only a belief in God’s Word, but a submission
of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon
Him, there is faith—faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God. And the heart that
in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now
delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, “O how love I thy law!
it is my meditation all the day” (
Psalm 119:97
). And the righteousness of the law
is fulfilled in us, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (
Romans 8:1
).
There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really
desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their
life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed
by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall
often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings
and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the
enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the
right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John,
“These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (
1 John 2:1
).
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And do not forget the words of Christ, “the Father himself loveth you”
(
John 16:27
). He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and
holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath
begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray
more fervently; believe more fully....
The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the
infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. A view of our sinfulness drives us to
Him who can pardon; and when the soul, realizing its helplessness, reaches out
after Christ, He will reveal Himself in power. The more our sense of need drives
us to Him and to the Word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His
character, and the more fully we shall reflect His image.
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