Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, vol. 1

The Life of Faith

We are to live a life of faith in Jesus Christ. That love that He has manifested for us is to be an increasing love. Self must die. We find that this is hard; for self dies hard. It is not our work to uphold self. “Without Me,” Christ says, “ye can do nothing.” The life of grace is always a life of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. 1NL 31.5

My brother, might you not better look to the source of your strength, and take Christ at His word? Feeling is nothing; praise of men, good or bad, is nothing. Whatever men may say or think of me, it cannot make me white or black. I am not changed in character at all by what others think of me. Looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of my faith, I can overcome all things. My guilt in the past He has forgiven. Saying the words in faith, I am in Christ. He is the parent stock. According to my faith I unite fiber to fiber with the living Vine. The parent stock bears me, not I the parent stock. 1NL 31.6

All things are possible to him that believeth. We need not try to lead ourselves. He leads, He guides, He sanctifies through the truth. We need now, just now, to surrender self, and all its worries and perplexities. If we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, we possess the richest grace mortals can have. But if we look on the dark side, and talk unbelief, we shall have plenty of unbelief. Throw this rubbish overboard, and taking the oars of faith, row as for your life. Do not think of self, but of Christ. Draw nigh to God, and then you will draw nigh to one another. You will love as brethren. Remember that Jesus intercedes for erring souls. 1NL 32.1