FAITH IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
“Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
This verse seems to form a principle that is expounded and illustrated throughout scripture. The latter part of the verse is quoted by Paul in two portions, Romans1:17 and Galatians 3:11, and occurs in Hebrews 10:38. In its original context in Habakkuk, there is a contrast between a person with a heart of boastful pride and the person who has been declared righteous on the basis of faith. As far as the righteous person is concerned, there must be continued implementation of the faith principle in is life.
There is a striking marginal rendering of that statement, “The just shall live by faithfulness.” In other words, this faith must be focused on the faithfulness of God rather than being conscious of itself. There are some people who become so obsessed with evaluating their faith that they lose sight of the proper object – His faithfulness. My need is not so much the development of greater faith but the placement of that faith upon the proper object – the Faithful One.
This concept is contained in the instructions given through David in Psalm 37. Verse 3 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” There may be a variation and fluctuation in my faith, but there is no variableness with Him. Paul speaks to this issue when he writes, “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?” (Romans 3:3).
A living faith is to be a characteristic in the spiritual walk of every child of God. “For we walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). This faith can only be effective if it is placed in the Faithful One. Whenever faith is demanded, we must bring Him into the situation, asking ourselves, “Is He faithful in a crisis like this?”Today’s devotional was written by the late Dr. William A. Raws and from our daily devotional, Real Victory for Real Life
Compass Pointers: I am spellbound by the intensity of Jesus' emotions: Not a twinge of pity, but heartbroken compassion; not a passing irritation, but terrifying anger; not a silent tear, but groans of anguish; not a weak smile, but ecstatic celebration. Jesus' emotions are like a mountain river cascading with clear water. My emotions are more like a muddy foam or a feeble trickle.G. Walter Hansenin, Christianity Today
Anchored to the Rock: It is what we are when we pray our prayers that counts with God. James Philip
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