Framed By The Word Of God

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
[Hebrews 11:1-3 KJV]

Photograph by Gill Stewart

I have found great blessing in starting the day with reading the word of God and a commentary on what it reveals from a commentator I trust. No one has proved more consistently enlightening to me than Oswald Chambers.

In the books that were produced by his wife ‘Biddy’ (Gertrude) after his death in 1917 — and based on her shorthand notations of Oswald’s talks and lectures — I have found a wealth of Holy Spirit wisdom that always points me toward the source of that wisdom — Jesus Christ.

What follows was my reading this morning, from the book “Devotions For A Deeper Life” ...

“Faith is too often viewed as “a habit of the mind whereby we assent to a testimony, upon the authority of the one who testifies.” But New Testament faith is infinitely more than this.
When Jesus Christ testified of Himself, religious people of His day did not believe Him. He had to awaken their faith. Faith in the gospel became the very means of producing the wonderful life of God in them.
When Christ creates His marvelous sanctification in you, you will live this holy life moment by moment through faith in the Son of God.
Entire sanctification is not receiving from our Lord power to live like Jesus; it is Christ in you, living out His life. This Christlike life of holiness will be seen in you and through you as you walk by faith.
By simple faith look up into God’s face, trust entirely in His grace, and say, “Lord, make Thy sanctification in me as real as the sanctification that is stated in Thy Word.” “

Friday 29th January 2021

When we lie like fallow ground, God puts in new seeds and the harvest is the ripe fruit of God; otherwise it is ripe fruit of naturalness only. Lying fallow is always the secret of spiritual growth.

---