Daily EncouragementSample

“The righteous will live by faith” - this must be one of the greatest texts of all. It comes in the first instance directly from the Lord to Habakkuk (Hab. 2:4) as he ponders the mystery of God’s providence while standing on his watch-tower. It is quoted in Romans (1:16-17), the epistle which has so much to say about the commencement of the Christian life. It appears here in Galatians, where the issue is the continuation of that life. It occurs again in Hebrews (10:35-39), where the consummation of our life in Christ is the subject.

We began with it; here in Galatians we are reminded that we must go on with it. The devil will lead us away from this text if he can. He always aims at getting us to add to the gospel and to begin justifying ourselves by works again. His desire is to move us away from the simplicity of faith.

“Consider Abraham,” says Paul in this passage (verse 6). Commenting on Abraham’s faith, Alexander MacLaren says, “the metaphor in the Hebrew word is that of a man leaning all his might on some strong stay. Surely that metaphor says more than many definitions. It teaches that the essence of faith is absolute reliance, and that reliance unites us with Him on whom we rely.”