the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1,
The apostle who speaks so much of faith and makes it the only condition of salvation, shows in this chapter, as in all the epistles, clearly enough what kind of faith he means. Faith and charity with him are the same things. Faith without charity is as a shell without the kernel. All talk about faith not united with charity is like "a tinkling cymbal," a corpse without a soul. Oh, that those who speak so unconditionally of faith and so readily quote the apostle Paul, would not overlook nor forget that the same apostle here links faith in such a way to charity, that he makes it dependent upon charity, and that without charity faith is nothing and comes to shame before God. When men hear such a declaration of Scripture, they are at once ready to compose themselves and think, ’’I submit to that. If I need do nothing but believe, then I am soon done with it." We forget to investigate and to ask, What faith does the apostle mean? It is evident that true faith is something grand because it works such great things. Faith cannot be the possession of everybody, since the faith usually seen accomplishes so little. In short, if all who imagine themselves heroes of faith would thoroughly weigh this chapter, they would soon be shipwrecked as to their faith and discover that their faith is aground on a sandbar and that they in reality have no faith because they have no charity. Alas! how many disappointments there are in man’s most sacred and important concern. How must we not watch, pray and examine ourselves before the face of God, that selfishness shall not delude us and declare us saved without charity, which is the true and unmistakable criterion of the blessed children of God. All is nothing, even all that is good is in vain, if it be not sanctified by love. Come, sweet Charity, come and fill us wholly and completely!
Come, Almighty, to deliver.
Let us all Thy life receive;
Graciously return, and never,
Never more Thy temples leave!
Thee we would be always blessing.
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy precious love.
