The Just Shall Live By Faith

[Thompson, Darryl]

---------------------------------------------------------
Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for March 11
Visit us at http://www.whiteestate.org
-----------------------------------------------------------

The Just Shall Live By Faith

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.
Col. 2:6.

Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness-all depend upon our union
with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly-by abiding in
Him-that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the author, but the
finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is to
be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course, but at
every step of the way. . . .

Do you ask, "How am I to abide in Christ?" In the same way as you
received Him at first. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk ye in him." Col. 2:6. "The just shall live by faith." Heb.
10:38. You gave yourself to God, to be His wholly, to serve and obey
Him, and you took Christ as your Saviour. You could not yourself atone
for your sins or change your heart; but having given yourself to God,
you believe that He for Christ's sake did all this for you. By faith you
became Christ's, and by faith you are to grow up in Him-by giving and
taking. You are to give all-your heart, your will, your service-give
yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must take
all-Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be
your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper-to give you
power to obey. 

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first
work. Let your prayer be, "Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all
my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and
let all my work be wrought in Thee." This is a daily matter. Each
morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your
plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall
indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of
God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of
Christ. 

>From Devotional: Our Father Cares, p. 72.