able to raise him up. Moses held God’s faith, and led the millions of Israel into the waste, howling wil derness. Joshua knew Israel well, and was ignorant neither of the fortifications of the Canaanites, nor * of their martial prowess; but he held God’s faithfulness, and led Israel across Jordan. The Apostles held God’s faith, and were not , daunted by the hatred of the Jews, nor by the hostility of the heathen. And what shall I say more, for the time would fail me to tell of those who, holding God’s faithfulness, |r had faith, and by it “ subdued king- , doms, wrought righteousness, ob- . tained p rom ises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the vio lence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to f lig h t the a rm ies o f t i aliens.” Satan, too, has his creed: “ Doubt God’s faithfulness.” “ Hath God said? Are you not mistaken as to His commands? He could not really . mean so. You take an extreme view — give too literal a meaning to the words." Ah! how constantly and ' alas, how successfully, are such arguments used to prevent whole hearted trust in God, wholehearted M consecration to God! All God’s giants have been weak men, who did great things for God * ] because they reckoned on God be ing with them. See the cases of David, of Jonathan and his armor- , ( bearer, of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and many others. Oh, beloved friends, if there is a living God, faithful and truth, let us hold His faithfulness! Holding His faithfulness we may face, with calm and sober but con- M fident assurance of victory, every difficulty and danger. We may count on grace for the work, on pecuniary ‘ aid, on needful facilities, and on . ultimate success. Let us not give Him a partial trust, but daily, hour- & ly serve Him, “ holding God’s faith fulness.” KB Reprinted by permission of Overseas Missionary Fellowship.
by <#. Hudson Taylor Founder of the China Inland Mission
should we look for raiment, for He clothes the lilies of the field. Every care for temporal things we should bring to Him, and then be careful for nothing. To Him likewise should we come with all spiritual want, “ that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of heed.” Is our path dark? He is our sun. Are we in danger? He is our shield. If we trust Him, we shall not be put to shame; but if our faith fail, His will not — “ If we believe not, He abideth faithful.” Want of trust is at the root of almost all our sins and weaknesses; and how shall we escape from it, but by looking to Him, and observ ing His faithfulness? As the light which shines from the dark waters of the lake is the reflection of the sun’s rays, so man’s faith is the impress and reflection of God’s faith. The man who holds God’s faith will not be reckless or fool hardy, but he will be ready for every emergency. The man who holds God’s faith will dare to obey Him, however impolitic it may ap pear. “ Hold God’s faithfulness." Abra ham held God’s faith, and offered up Isaac, accounting that God was
H old god ’ s fa ithfu lness ” — such we believe to be the purport of the three words of our Lord that in Mark 11:22 are ren dered "Have faith in God” and in the margin, more literally, “ Have the faith of God.” In Romans 3:3 “ the faith of God” evidently means God’s faithfulness. “ Hold” is so rendered in Matthew 21:26 — “ All hold John as a prophet.” In the parallel passage, Mark 11:32, it is rendered “count” ; in Luke 20:6, a different Greek word is used — “ They be persuaded that John was a prophet." Let us see that in theory we hold that God is faithful, that in daily life we count upon it, and that at all times and under all circumstances we are fully per suaded of this blessed truth! Man needs a creed, and will have one. Here is an inspired creed: short, intelligible, and to the point. It meets every man's need, is suit able to every age and to every coun try, and appropriate in every cir cumstance of daily life. It bears on all man’s temporal affairs; it meets his every spiritual want. To God's faithfulness should we look for our necessary food— “ Give us this day our daily bread.” To Him, too,
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