March "Grant, Oh Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of Thy truth, we may steadfastly look up to heaven, and by Faith behold the glory that shall be revealed: and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors by the example of Thy first martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to Thee. O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for Thee, our only Mediator and Advocate." Amen. -The Book of Common Prayer. 44 March THE SACRED TEXT 1 We have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. -Gal. 2: 16. THE HELPFUL THOUGHT A real Faith in Christ has no anxiety. -St. Ambrose. Think of what you are-a child of God, an heir of heaven. Realize the grandeur of saintliness and you will shrink from degrading your soul and debasing your spirit. THE HELPFUL THOUGHT God puts into our heart the cry of intercession: and if we hesitate the same God says Believe, all is possible to him who has Faith. Madam De Gasparin. My brethren, the Spirit of God, which is in every one of us—the Spirit of love and truth unchangeable—will take possession of our spirits, if we will but let Him, and turn our whole lives into the lives of children of God, and joint heirs of heaven with His Son. -Thomas Hugbes. THE SACRED TEXT 3 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God-the Faithful God. —Psa. 146: 5; 91: 4 THE HELPFUL THOUGHT If duty has called you to troubled waters, let Faith, that divine principle, believing, trusting, honoring Jesus, bear you up amid every difficulty. Hope thou in God, for thou shalt yet praise Him for the health of thy countenance. Unknown. The first essential for good living is Faith. THE SACRED TEXT 4 By the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. Even the righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe. THE HELPFUL THOUGHT -Rom. 3: 20, 21, 22. This is what Faith is in its results,—it furnishes us with a foundation on which our hopes can securely rest, and with a conviction that those things exist which are not earthly or temporal, and which therefore we cannot -F. W. Farrar. see. THE SACRED TEXT 5 If we confess our sins, He is Faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. THE HELPFUL THOUGHT It has been common in theology to define Faith as the condition of receiving God's forgiving love; but I think there is truth in the suggestion of a distinguished American theologian, that Faith is more accurately defined, not merely as the condition, but as the act of receiving the act of appropriating in humility and thankfulness the gift of God's grace in Christ. -George B. Stevens. THE SACRED TEXT 6 Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin. -Rom. 14: 23. THE HELPFUL THOUGHT Faith is the subtle chain that binds us to the infinite; the voice of a deep life within, that will remain until we crowd it thence. -G. O. Smith. Safe! There is no safety but from God and that comes by prayer and Faith. -Charles Kingsley. THE SACRED TEXT 7 These all died in Faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded by them, and embraced them. THE HELPFUL THOUGHT Have Faith in this afterward. -Heb. 11: 13. |