July 1

Now, the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38.

Many fall into sin after baptism and lose their baptismal grace and cast away their heavenly inheritance. They lose the saving faith, which was kindled in their hearts in Holy Baptism, and in consequence of rank unbelief they cease to be the children of God. The loss of the saving faith is the most deplorable of all losses. One who has lost his faith may have wealth, he may enjoy the comforts and the pleasures of this present life, but if he is not altogether blind to his real condition, he must be aware of the awful fact that he is going to an eternity of destruction and doom, to certain shipwreck and eternal death. God is no longer his Friend and Father. Yea, despair seizes upon him, since he is without God in the world and therefore without hope. O let us therefore by the grace of God persevere in the faith! O let us hold fast to the profession of our faith!

There is danger that this precious treasure be wrested from you. You can lose your faith. Temptations will come upon the Christians. They will come unawares, take them by surprise. But as soon as they are overcome by temptation and sin, just so soon they are enslaved by sin; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same he is brought in bondage. The old man has gained dominion, and the new man has been conquered and routed. Faith has become extinct. His heart is hardened. It is difficult for the preaching of the Law to strike home and penetrate the heart. Thus it is that worldlings frequently cringe under the preaching of the Law while apostates remain sullen and unconcerned; that the Gospel of Jesus and His saving grace is sometimes readily accepted by the former, but often spurned by the latter, who have lost their faith. Their punishment will be greater. It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Last Day than for such apostates. O let us always beware of losing the faith!

Prayer.

O Thou God of grace and mercy, our dear Father in heaven, moved by grace and divine love, Thou hast given us Thy dear Son and with Him full salvation and grace. We now pray Thee, dear Father, preserve unto us this precious boon and heavenly gift in order that we may not lose it. We are indeed poor, wretched, and

frail beings, who fall from one sin into the next, sinning now in thoughts, now in words, now in deeds, so that we are in great danger of falling from faith. O Lord, let us not grow faint and weary and falter. Let us not succumb to the allurements of the world and to the wiles and temptations of the devil, but let our faith ever be strengthened and refreshed. Amen.

Faith in Jesus Christ will give Sweetest pleasures while we live; Faith in Jesus must supply Solid comfort when we die.