The Faith That Works

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6.
Faith is not certainty of knowledge, it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is trusting in God—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership, and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, are pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these. Every good impulse or aspiration is the gift of God; faith receives from God the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency.
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”; 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.
Faith earns nothing for us; it is the gift of God, which we may receive and cherish by making Christ our personal Saviour.
The Faith I Live By 90
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Prayer Requests
—-My dad Kenneth has died. I ask prayer for my mother. Marilynn
—-Please pray for my granddaughter right now. She is on her way to Thayer hospital. Apparently she passed out on the bus. That is all I know right now. Her name is Alayna. Debra
—-I’m not feeling well and am asking for prayers.. I really electrocuted myself last week and just haven’t felt the same since. Eva
—-my cousin’s son is having surgery this morning. Pray. Ann
—-Prayer request for a friend’s brother, Rolando. He suffered a massive heart attack. Millie
—-I have an interview today. Also please keep neighbor’s baby and me and my cats in prayer for safety. Ann
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, I used to love to look at my grandmother’s photo album. There was an old tintype of my great-grandmother as a girl of 18, some of other relatives I did not know, and a lot pictures of my grandparents, my aunt and my mother, and of course me.
Sometimes someone would sit beside me and tell me a little about the person in each photo. My mother’s favorite person to talk about was her granduncle Charlie. When she was little, he used to hold her in his lap and tell her stories. He would play whatever she wanted to play and just spend quality time with her. She often told me how kind Uncle Charlie was and how much she loved him. She wished that he was her father so she could be with him always.
Just as my mother shared the experiences that she had as a little child with Uncle Charlie, so we are to witness to others by sharing what our Dear Saviour has done for us. John says, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” 1 John 1:3,4;5:10 Jesus speaks of this witness that we must have welling up from within us, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Mat 5:14-16 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” Isa 43:10,11 Jesus commands us, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Mat 28:19,20
May we, daily, see Jesus through His Holy Word. May we become more and more like Him each day. May others, by our words and by our actions, take “knowledge of (us), that (we have) been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
Rose