by Arthur W. Pink
by Arthur W. Pink
Philologos Religious Online Books
Philologos.org
by Arthur W. Pink
October, 1932
FEEBLE FAITH
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 18:5).
Did the Apostles need to pray? Then well may I. Oh! Thou great Author and Finisher of our faith! I would look up unto Thee, with thankfulness, that Thou hast granted even the smallest portion of faith to so unworthy a creature as I am. Surely, my soul, it is as great a miracle of grace that my God and Saviour should have kindled belief in thy stony heart, amidst all the surrounding obstructions of sin and Satan which lay there, as when miraculous fire from heaven, in answer to the prophet's prayer, came down and consumed the wetted sacrifice. I praise Thee, my God and King, this day, in the recollection of this unspeakable, unmerited mercy. And though this faith in my heart still be but as a grain of mustard seed; though it be but as a spark in the ocean; though it be but as a drop of dew, in comparison of the river; yet, blessed, precious Jesus! still this is faith, and it is Thy gift. And is it not a token of Thy favour? Is it not an earnest of the Holy Spirit, and a pledge of the promised inheritance? Babes in faith, as well as strong in the Lord, are equally Thine: for it is said that, “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48); “and to as many as believed, Thou gavest power to become the sons of God.” So it is by Thyself, blessed Redeemer, and not by the strength or weakness of the faith of Thy people, their justification before God the Father is secured. Precious is the Scripture which tells us, that by Thee all that believe, whether great faith or little faith—”all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:39).
But, my soul, while the consciousness of thy possessing the smallest evidences of faith in thy Beloved, gives thee joy unspeakable and full of glory, dost thou not blush to think what ungrateful returns thou art making to thy Redeemer in the littleness of thy faith in such a God and Saviour? Whence is it that thine affections are so warm in a thousand lesser things, and so cold toward Christ? Whence that His Holy Word thou so often hearest as though thou heardest not? Whence the ordinances of Jesus' house, the promises of His Scriptures, the visits of His grace; whence these pass again and again before thee, and thou remainest so cold and lifeless in thy affections? Whence that the temptations of Satan, the corruptions of thine heart, the allurements of the world, gain any influence upon thee? Whence that thou art so anxious about things that perish; about anything, about nothing, deserving to be called interesting; whence so seldom at the court of the Heavenly King, where thou oughtest to be found daily, hourly, waiting; and whence under trials, or the want of answers at a mercy-seat, fretful, impatient, and misgiving—whence all these, and numberless other evils, but from the weakness and littleness of thy love to Christ, and thy trust in Christ, and thy dependence upon Christ, and thy communion with Christ? All, all arise out of this one sad cause, my soul, thine unbelief. Jesus, Master, look upon me, put the cry with earnestness within my heart, that I may unceasingly, with the Apostle's prayer, be sending forth this as the first and greatest petition of my whole soul—”Lord, increase my faith.” (Rob. Hawker, 1825)
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