From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
August 2 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life." 1 Timothy 6:12 It is through faith that the power whereby God keeps his
people, acts and is made known, and it is very instructive and encouraging
to be able to trace in our own hearts the connection between the power of
God and the actings of faith. We are not carried to heaven as passengers are
carried by the express train, so that if once in the carriage they may go to
sleep, look out of the window, or read the newspaper without fear of losing
their way, or not reaching their destination. Though kept by the power of
God, we have to fight every step of the way. It is this living, fighting, struggling, and yet
eventually conquering faith, which sets the tried and exercised child of God
at such a distance from the loose and careless doctrinal professor, who is
hardened and emboldened to presume, and even walk in ways of sin and death
by holding the doctrine of being kept by the power of God, without knowing
anything of the secret way by which this power works and keeps. To such we
may adapt the language of James. You believe that the elect of God are kept
by his Almighty power unto salvation. "You do well; the devils also believe
and tremble"--which you do not if you be one of these loose professors. But
does God keep you? Does he keep you from evil, that it may not grieve you?
Does he keep your eye single, your conscience tender, your heart prayerful,
your life and walk circumspect, your eye from adultery, your tongue from
folly, your hands from covetousness, and your feet from the ways of pride
and worldliness? You have no evidence that you are an heir of God and are
being kept by his power unto salvation, unless you have some experience how
he keeps, and that as it is by power on his part, so it is through faith on
yours. Whenever we slip, stumble, or go astray, it is through the power of
unbelief; and whenever we stand, fight, or prevail, it is by faith.