Fresh Faith

Faith is not reusable. Yesterday’s remains with the past. And tomorrow’s has not been birthed yet. Today’s faith is all that breathes. That, no doubt, is why it is referred to as living faith. You cannot possess a faith that’s gone, nor one that has not arrived yet. The writer of Hebrews tells us the only faith at our disposal is a “Now faith…”

If, as we are told, we are to walk by faith, it goes without saying, it is an ongoing thing. It is a step-by-step, moment-by-moment continuation. Both Noah and Enoch walked with God. And we are clearly told what kind of walk it was: “By faith.” Wherever we are at, at any given time, is our moment of faith. And without this kind, it’s impossible to please God!

The scriptures speak of a growing faith, it’s to increase. We’re to go from no faith, to degrees of faith. The stages seem to be a weak faith, which becomes a little faith, followed by strong faith. And finally, we end up with great a faith. The important thing is to use the faith you have. Even Simon Peter’s “Little faith,” enabled him to walk on water. He only sank when looking at the circumstances and taking his eyes off the object of his faith, Jesus Christ.

“Give what Thou commandest, then command what thou wilt.” (Augustine)

The Legacy of a Godly Example

The movie, “City by the Sea,” is about the Castro Revolution and how it affected one Cuban family. Andy Garcia, himself of Cuban descent, both directed and starred in it. There is a scene toward the end where Garcia’s character is leaving for America. In it, his once well-to-do, but now weak and aged father, says to him, “I have left you so little my son.” To which Garcia makes this great and profound statement, “How can you say that? You left me the wealth of your example.”

Interestingly, before Jesus went away, He said to His children, “I have given you an example.” And they were the richer for it! Will we be able to say this to our children before leaving this world? Will we leave them the wealth of our example?

My oldest daughter Leah wrote a song years ago, entitled, A Goodly Heritage.

I may not have riches as some others may,
But I have a mother who knows how to pray;
And maybe there are some things I missed in my youth,
But I have a father who stands for the truth.

And if in the future my parents pass on,
To dwell in that city we’ve come to call home;
They may not leave me the goods of this world,
But I will inherit their God and His Word!

I have a goodly heritage;
I’m blessed with things you don’t see.
I have a goodly heritage,
And that is worth far more to me.”

Good without God

It seems to me, in the controversial passage of Romans chapter seven, verses fifteen through twenty-five that we have a sinful man (vv.17, 20, 23) trying to be a good man (vv.19,21) without the God Man (v.25).

C.S. Lewis said, “No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good.” Paul found you can’t bypass God, trying to be good. Our Lord said as much when He said, “…there is none good but one, that is, God.” Therefore, the only way for a man to be truly good, is to get God into him!

One of Satan’s main goals in the Fall was to tempt man to side-step God, and exchange Him for good alone. You can be good without God; but only in the world’s estimation! It is not good enough for it to be said of a man, “He’s a good man.” But, like Barnabas, of old, “He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost.”

A Godly saint trumps a good sinner every time

Limitations and Frustrations

“He fell asleep…Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased and there was a calm.” Jesus was not only every bit God, but wholly man in all respects, excepting sin. When Jesus was weary at the well, His humanity shown through; but when giving the woman living water, that was His Deity shining through. Paul tells us this is dual nature, a great mystery.

Our Lord was never frustrated by His limitations; He took everything in life in stride. Any limitations His humanity brought upon Him, He gave to a limitless God. It did not cause Him any frustration. For example, not knowing the time of His second coming while He was here upon earth. He excelled in those areas He was to excel in, and in any other, He simply left it to an all-wise God.

I find many of the Lord’s people are attempting to be over-achievers. You can always spot them by the one identifying characteristic; they’re invariably over-wrought. These people seem to never be content with their own gifts and calling. They apparently have not learned, satisfaction is a great deterrent to frustration. God puts boundaries and limitations on every life, as He says in Job, “Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further.” You can come short of God’s will, but you can also to go past it!

It’s a wise person that’s content with who they are, where they are, and what they’re doing.

Do What You Can

“She hath done what she could,” Notice, Jesus didn’t say she did more than she could. You can only do what you can do. My wife used to sing a song entitled, Do What You Can Where You Are. I find only frustration awaits we who attempt to add to our God given abilities. The Bible way is, “Every man according to his ability.” This is true in every area of our Christian life!

It’s apparent that Paul knew the danger in taking more upon ourselves than God intended, when he said, “We stretch not ourselves beyond our measure.” Taking added responsibility in our life may seem commendable, but it just might end up being our undoing. It could be “the straw that breaks the camels back.”

To keep God’s people from worship and fellowship, the Devil’s Pharaoh will always come up with, “Let more work be laid upon [them].” Not only should you not add self-imposed burdens to your life, but you should not allow anyone else to; no matter who that person may be. To yourself, and others, you must learn to give a good, firm, “No”! God does not put upon us more than we can bear; neither should we!

Duties never conflict. (Bob Jones Sr.)

Same-Alikes

When my youngest daughter, Charity, was small and would see things that matched, she would say, “They are same-alikes.” Well, the only thing God’s children are alike in is their principles. We all received a Divine disposition at the time of our Spiritual birth. This is true Christ-likeness. Other than this, we are like snowflakes or fingerprints; the Bible uses the stars to show our diversities.

This individuality necessitates our Heavenly Father, like any wise earthly one, to deal with each of His children accordingly. The Scriptures teach both general truths and specific; and so it is with God’s dealings with His “Little Ones.” For example, generally speaking, “Nothing is impossible with God.” But, specifically we’re told, “It is impossible for God to lie.” This principle also holds true in the Lord dealing with each of His Elect; that is, in a general and specific sense.

There are the general Commandments (ten) addressed to all the saints, but there are also specific commands given to individual Believer’s at different times and in various situations, as they go through life. This is one of the great dangers in taking biographies too seriously and trying to emulate the character written about. Let me illustrate. C.S. Lewis’ prayer-life consisted in request and committal; while Hudson Taylor’s was in claiming and getting things from God. Which was right? Who was most Spiritual? Both! This truth is found in Hebrews chapter eleven, where we find the dividing line in such lives is found in the words, “And others…”

Let God be as original with others as He is with you! (Oswald Chambers)

Tempting Temperaments

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Paul said it, but Peter could say “Amen” to this text. He did not know that the devil would use his natural Sanguine temperament to get him to fall. No wonder he wrote in his first Epistle “Arm yourselves.” Or as the adage goes, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

Satan does not know our thoughts, but he does observe our natural temperament and tempts us accordingly. He does not tempt us contrary to our constitution. Whatever way the tide of the heart moves, the wind of temptation blows the same. The old farmer knows what grain is best for the soil. Whenever the devil baits his hook, it is always with something that fits our natural taste.

The devil shapes himself to the fashions of all men. If he meet
with a proud man, or a prodigal man, then he makes himself a
flatterer, if a covetous man, then he comes with a reward in his
hand. He hath an apple for Eve, a grape for Noah, a change
of raiment for Gahazi, a bag for Judas. He can dish out his
meat for all palates. He hath a latch to fit every shoe; he hath
something to please all conditions. (Puritan Saying)