Faith

by W. Murray | Category: General | Jun 1980

Hebrews 11 contains a record of the lives of men; a record stamped with divine approval, whether it is Abel in his worship, Enoch in his walk, Noah in his work or Abraham in his pilgrimage. Indeed the whole chapter tells us what faith is and what it does. No child of God can give too much attention to these truths for it is impossible to please God apart from faith (verse 6). God has dealt to each man, according to His revealed will, "a measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). This faith is wrought by the Holy Spirit for the specific purpose that its manifestation will be to the profit of all (1 Cor. 12:7-9).

That measure of faith, however, will greatly depend on our knowledge of Him; but in this as in all else, "with the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again", for it was' to His own the Lord delivered the stinging rebuke', "0 ye of little faith". Certainly the grace sufficient to meet the various circumstances of life will depend on the' strength of our faith (Rom. 4:20) that is, faith in the Strong One, even as precious faith is faith in the Precious One (2 Pet. 1:1), as great faith is faith in the Great One (Matt. 15:28). Great was the faith of those long ago who, suffering for righteousness' sake, were consigned to the fiery furnace. They lost nothing but what bound them, whereas they gained the companionship of the Son of God (Dan. 3:25).

Faith in its far-reaching effect is seen in the fact that it affects the spirit (the seat of the understanding, Heb. 11:3), the soul (the personality, Heb. 10:38) and the body (Gal. 2:20) of every child of God. In view of these things, can we do other than good to ourselves if we regularly prove our thoughts, our words and our deeds, whether they correspond to what they ought to be? Then through that virtuous fruit of the Spirit we shall be found walking in the Spirit as well as living in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25).

It is encouraging to ponder that memorable conversation in Luke 22. The Lord said to Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not". Such a revelation may well cause both writer and reader to resort often to the feet of Christ where the same kind and sympathetic One is well able and ready to supply all needed grace.

In connexion with this important truth Hebrews 4 contains much which ought to waken every one to righteousness. Israel failed to receive God's promises by faith, so that they could not enter His rest under Moses or Joshua. On the contrary their carcases fell in the wilderness (Heb. 3:17). Perhaps we have here the reason why in Hebrews 11 not a word is recorded

of faith in all the 40 years' journey of the Israelites in the wilderness.

"Seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1) (witness - not to men but to the power of faith through men)

"let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us".

W. Murray | Jun 1980
General