THE FAMILY ALTAR

July 31.

"The fruit of the Spirit is faith." Gal. 5:22.

The word "faith" here means as much as "faithfulness." The

Apostle is not speaking of justifying faith that accepts Christ's

saving merit, but, as the whole connection shows, he speaks of

that virtue by which we keep faith with one another, of fidelity,

of faithfulness. Even the unbelieving world admires faithfulness

to duty. God's holy Word has much to say in praise of a faithful

servant, a faithful friend, a faithful wife, a faithful steward, and

so on. But the greatest, most glorious faithfulness which God's

Word extols is the fidelity of the Christian to his God and Savior.

As God's Holy Spirit alone works saving faith in us, so alone does

He keep us faithful to Christ and in the profession of His holy

Gospel unto the end. And as we Christians are to be faithful in

our love to God, so we are to prove faithful in our daily calling

and, above all, in our love to our fellow-men. For faithfulness is

love making good, standing the test in the storms and vicissitudes

of life. There is much faithlessness in this selfish world. Men

will break their holiest agreements if they can gain a little money

by doing so. And who has not had this or that painful experience

with false neighbors or false friends? Is it not too true what

the rhyme says: "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep,

and you weep alone"? May such base unfaithfulness never be

found in us. Let us, by the help of God's Holy Spirit, ever show

ourselves faithful and true in our tasks, in our love to one another,

and above all in our love to Christ and His Word.

0 Holy Spirit, enter in,

And in our hearts Thy work begin,

Thy temple deign to make us;

Sun of the soul, Thou Light divine,

Around and in us brightly shine,

To joy and gladness wake us,

That we To Thee

Truly living, To Thee giving

Prayer unceasing,

Still may be in love increasing.

O mighty Rock, O Source of Life,

Let Thy dear Word, 'mid doubt and strife,

Be so within us burning,

That we be faithful unto death,

In Thy pure love and holy faith,

From Thee true wisdom learning!

Thy grace And peace

On us shower; By Thy power

Christ confessing,

Let us win our Savior's blessing.