June 15 Daily Devotional

The two ways of life

[Habakkuk 2] verse 4 reads "but the just shall live by his faith."... This important statement is quoted several times in the New Testament.* Scholars disagree as to the exact translation of the first part of the verse. Either it can be "His soul which is lifted up is not upright in him" (AV) or, as quoted in Hebrews 10:38, where it is stated that God has no pleasure in the soul of him that draws back (or withdraws himself). The truth stated is that there are only two possible attitudes to life in this world: that of faith and that of unbelief. Either we view our lives in terms of our belief in God, and the conclusions which we are entitled to draw from that; or our outlook is based upon a

rejection of God and the corresponding denials. We may either "withdraw" ourselves from the way of faith in God, or else we may live by faith in God. The very terms suggest corresponding ways of life. As a man believes so is he. The just, the righteous, shall live by faith; or, in other words, the man who lives by faith is righteous. On the other hand, the man who "draws back" is unrighteous because he is not living by faith. Here is the great watershed of life, and all of us are on one side of it or the other. Whatever my political or philosophical views may be, they must have this common denominator; either my life is based on faith or it is not. If it is not, it does not much matter what my views may be, or whether I am controlled by political, social, economic, or any other considerations. What matters is whether I am accepting God's rule or not.

From Fear to Faith, p. 50

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“Text reproduced from ‘A First Book of Daily Readings’ by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, published by Epworth Press 1970 & 1977 © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. Used with permission.”

Comments on D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, A First Book of Daily Readings

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