Faith versus sight

‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’ 2 Corinthians 5:7

Suggested Further Reading: Proverbs 31:10–31

In Scripture we often read of men who, by faith, did great exploits. ‘By thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.’ Now, this is a very great thing to do; and some Christians are always fixing their eyes upon exploits of faith. The apostle Paul did cut through troops and leap over walls, but in this place he speaks of the common actions of life. It is as if he said, ‘I not only leap walls by faith, but I walk by faith; I not only break through troops by faith, but I go and do my business by faith.’ That man has not yet learned the true spirit of Christianity who is always saying, ‘I can preach a sermon by faith.’ Yes, sir, but can you make a coat by faith? ‘I can distribute tracts, and visit the district by faith.’ Can you cook a dinner by faith? I mean, can you perform the common actions of the household, and the daily duties which fall to your lot, in the spirit of faith? This is what the apostle means. He does not speak about running, or jumping, or fighting, but about walking; and he means to tell you that the ordinary life of a Christian is different from the life of another man; that he has learned to introduce faith into everything he does. It was not a bad saying of one who said that he ‘did eat and drink, and sleep eternal life.’ We want not a home-spun religion, but a religion that was spun in heaven, and that will do to wear at home and about the house. ‘We walk by faith.’ The Muslim worships at the ‘holy hour;’ the true Christian calls all hours ‘holy’ and worships God always.

For meditation: Do you regard your Christian faith and worship as being just a matter of Sunday services and church activities? True faith should extend to what we eat, drink and wear (Matthew 6:25,30–31) and true worship should include the manner in which we eat, drink and do anything else (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Sermon no. 677
8 August (Undated Sermon)