THE CHILDREN'S FAITH

The apostle Paul wrote of the Son of God that He "has loved me and given himself for me". He had a personal faith in a personal Saviour. It was not just believing in his mind that Jesus died, but it was a belief much deeper in his soul and in his own affections. A young Japanese convert put this matter in a very interesting way. She said that 'believing that Jesus died will save nobody and is history, but believing that Jesus died for me will save anybody and is faith'!

In writing to Timothy the same servant of the Lord reminded the young believer of the "unfeigned faith" of his mother and grandmother. No doubt these were godly women who received for themselves the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning work. It could also have been that in those early days some persons might pretend to be Christians just to get advantages such as help or friendship. To that extent their faith would be feigned. All soul-exercise in these matters is good for believers, but older children especially should be watchful that the enemy of souls does not stir up doubts as to whether faith is real or unreal. The gift of the Holy Spirit confirms faith.

Read chapter eleven of the Epistle to the Hebrews, which gives much instruction as to faith and its evidences. The chapter describes faith and illustrates it. However it has been said that a fuller definition of faith is that a believer receiving the witness as to the Lord Jesus "sets to his seal that God is true". From very early times people have used a seal to give personal proof of something. Each person would have a distinctive mark or symbol to stamp on hot wax upon a document. The wax would dry hard and prove to everyone that his word was also his 'deed'. Whoever believes the gospel takes it thus as God's word and finds that every blessing in Christ is 'in-deed' his by faith. A Christian sets to his seal that God is true. Thus you can become in yourself a proof that blessing is real and living. Are you such a proof?

J.C.Evershed