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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Timothy 1:12. (Abraham was) fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Romans 4:21.
If your faith and works be of God, then you have divine certainty; your faith can no more be moved than God can be moved. If your faith have God’s testimony and power in the heart as its foundation, it stands as secure as God Himself. If, however, your faith be only a fancy or a supposition built on human arguments, a self-wrought evidence, then it is subject to the same changes as all human things are subject to. The faith which is wrought by God in the heart can not be overthrown by anyone: it is a great gift of God. There are many who themselves are the authors of their faith; hence their faith is as weak and wavering as they themselves are, altogether dependent on their own moods and on the weather. If the weather be nice their faith will be strong; but if it storms, the wind will blow away their faith, as it happened to Peter on the sea. Since faith must accomplish so much in man; since it must overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, and gain heaven and eternal life, yea, God Himself; since it must create a new man and translate him into the heavenly kingdom with Christ, and make him partaker of Christ, and of His divine nature, God’s child and heir, a fellow-citizen of the sanctified and one of the household of God, holy, righteous, glorious and blissful as God Himself, therefore faith must be more than the work of man. It must be of divine nature, born of God, placed in the heart by God Himself and inspired, animated and preserved by the power of God. Hence we have reason to pray: Lord, increase our faith!
Faith is a living power from heaven,
That grasps the promise God hath given,
A confidence in Christ alone
Whose grace cannot be overthrown.
Faith feels the Spirit’s kindling breath
In love and hope that conquer death;
Faith worketh joyfulness in God,
And trusts and blesses e’en the rod.
