We Receive A Faith That Works By Love

[Thompson, Darryl]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for January 8
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
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We Receive A Faith That Works By Love

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Gal. 5:6.

When you present your petitions to the Lord, it should be in humility,
without boasting of superior attainments, but with real soul hunger for
the blessing of God. Christ always knows what is cherished in the heart.
We must come in faith that the Lord will hear and answer our prayers;
for "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Genuine faith is the faith that
works by love, and purifies the soul. A living faith will be a working
faith. Should we go into the garden and find that there was no sap in
the plants, no freshness in the leaves, no bursting buds or blooming
flowers, no signs of life in stalk or branches, we would say, "The
plants are dead. Uproot them from the garden; for they are a deformity
to the beds." So it is with those who profess Christianity, and have no
spirituality. If there are no signs of religious vigor, if there is no
doing of the commandments of the Lord, it is evident that there is no
abiding in Christ, the living vine.

Faith and love are the essential, powerful, working elements of
Christian character. Those who possess them are one with Christ, and are
carrying forward His mission. . . . We are to sit at Christ's feet as
continual learners, and to work with His gifts of faith and love. We
shall then wear Christ's yoke, and lift His burdens, and Christ will
recognize us as one with Him; in heaven it will be said, "Ye are
labourers together with God." Will our youth remember that without faith
it is impossible to please God? and it must be faith that works by love
and purifies the soul.

We cannot overestimate the value of simple faith and unquestioning
obedience. It is by following in the path of obedience in simple faith
that the character obtains perfection


>From Devotional: Our Father Cares