77. Stand by faith before grace.

Scripture says that 'we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.' (Romans 5:2) So it is impossible to appropriate grace without faith. No wonder Scripture says, 'If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' (Isaiah 7:9) So what is faith?Faith as defined by the author of Hebrews has two aspects to it. 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' (11:1) It is not enough that I believe there is a God but also have to believe that he will answer my prayer or else my faith is incomplete. For God to be pleased with our faith, these two aspects must be evident. 'And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.' (Hebrews 11:6) God is looking for the evidence of faith. Can faith be seen? 'When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."' (Luke 5:20) Jesus said those words when he saw the faith of the men who brought the paralytic and lowered him on his mat through the tiles of the roof, into the middle of the crowd, right in front of him, where 'the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick' ( Vs 17). By their act of faith, they literally made the paralytic to be in front of Grace! 'He said to the paralysed man,"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.'(Vs 24-25) Let's stand by faith in this grace apportioned to us by Christ and then his grace will strengthen us in our weaknesses, just as it did the paralytic! Amen.