Courageous Faith by Charles F. Stanley

Author:Charles F. Stanley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books

Edman went on to say, “Into each life there arises an awareness of failure, a falling short of all that one should be in the Lord.” 11 Apparently, what I was experiencing was not as unusual an occurrence in the Christian life as I thought it was. Certainly, Hudson Taylor faced it, too. In a letter to his mother, Taylor echoed my situation in a manner that absolutely astounded me: “I have continually to mourn that I follow at such a distance and learn so slowly to imitate my precious Master. I cannot tell you how I am buffeted sometimes by temptation. I never knew how bad a heart I had. Yet I do know that I love God and love His work, and desire to serve Him only in all things. And I value above all things that precious Savior in Whom alone I can be accepted.” 12

This was exactly what I was going through—I felt completely helpless to change my own heart, even though I wanted to serve God so badly. Perhaps you’ve felt that way, too. No matter how diligently you try, you keep slipping back into the same bad habits and feel like you’re falling short of all God has for you. As the apostle Paul said, “I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate” (Rom. 7:14–15).

Thankfully, God worked through a missionary named John McCarthy to help Taylor through his struggles, which in turn aided me through mine and I pray will assist you through yours.

McCarthy explained that it was not Taylor’s duty to sanctify himself—no, it was Christ’s work in him that would accomplish what he so deeply desired, which was to be more like Jesus. Taylor’s responsibility was simply to abide in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to do as He so desired. McCarthy wrote,

Abiding, not striving nor struggling; looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power; trusting Him to subdue all inward corruption; resting in the love of an almighty Savior, in the conscious joy of a complete salvation, a salvation “from all sin” (this is His Word); willing that His will should truly be supreme . . . Christ literally all seems to me now the power, the only power for service; the only ground for unchanging joy. May He lead us into the realization of His unfathomable fullness. 13

As I read the excerpt from McCarthy’s letter, it was as if a light came on. I had never heard about the abiding life of Christ before this, but it was so clear, so simple. For the first time in my life I began to see the truth that it is not by my effort but by the life of Jesus in me—His life flowing through me by faith—that His kingdom work is accomplished. The concept comes, of course, from John

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