4th January
MORNING CONTEMPLATION
TOPIC: LORD, INCREASE OUR FAITH
TEXT: LUKE 17:5
''And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.''
If a man can run through a forest in the night without a touch; and another can go through a desert for days with neither food nor water; and another able to go cross the pacific ocean without a boat or ship, then a saint can live without faith. If faith grows, the believer grows: if it abates, he decreases. None can live above his faith; as faith thrives, so does a saint thrives. When this grace is starved, the believer loses weight in life and godliness. When the water of Noah increases, the ark was lifted up above the earth; mountains and hills were swallowed out of sight; the ark moves on the surface of the water and all flesh or souls living, died. From these facts, it is clear that whenever the flood or water of a saint's faith increases, mountains and hills, would be put out of view; we believe that the mountains and hills were stills there, but faith no longer see them! Faith can sing through the days of sorrow; faith can transact business with God in the dark; faith can live in sodom and not be stained. When the water of Noah abated, the Ark then rested on mount Ararat, could no longer move for want of a moving aid, the flood: faith is a moving agent; a life stops moving at the decrease or reduction of faith. All graces spring from faith and are maintained thereby: grace withers as faith faints. Like Peter, we sink when our faith is drawn! As Pharoah said of Joseph: '...without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt...' so says God to faith; no hand or leg can work in this kingdom of Christ without faith; without it, no man can please God. Let us then, seeing the overwhelming need of this grace, cry out like the disciples, Lord, increase our faith! This cry notes that only The Lord can enhance our faith. When the disciples prayed thus, The Lord then told them what faith is capable of doing: this goes to comfirm to us that faith comes by hearing from the Lord Himself. Did you see that if faith comes, it can also go? Friends, the Devil needs not attack anything around you to get at you: attack on your faith is all he needs to pull you down. Be therefore strong in faith, labour to increase here daily, and safety would be yours. Let the saints beg, Lord, increase our faith! It shall be according to your faith! This is the way of God! Peter would sink, if his faith fly away; Elijah would run from just a woman in fear, if his faith abate. As Joseph solemnly protest to his brothers, saying, 'Ye shall not see my face, except your brother(Benjamine) be with you' so God Has solemnly enjoyed all to not and cannot see His favour without faith: (Gen. 43:3)
Without faith, access into rest is denied: (Heb. 3:19)
Prayer: Lord, increase my faith; abate my doubt; renew my trust in thee: incline my ear to hear the words of thy mouth, for thereby faith cometh. Amen!