By Careful Study Of God's Word His Purpose Is Revealed

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,

that through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded

toward another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may live with one mind

and one mouth glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us,

to the glory of God.

Romans 15: 4 -- 7

            Scripture, in all its totality, Genesis to Revelation written by men, inspired by God, so that we could learn that which God has revealed to his children.  By Scripture we do learn how to be patient and by Scripture we have received comfort, and hope.  We are to extend what we ought to learn from Scripture to others.  Courageous people in all of human affairs know that there are efforts applied, and in effort, there are results and we can measure our effort by the strength of the results.  We are to provide harmony and in the law of harmony is the spiritual expression of love.  The strength of men revealed; by the manner that they handle circumstances.  A courageous person is one that understands that if he or she is to accomplish anything, even small things, then only a little bit of sacrifices required.  Every person to achieve much in life then there will be required much sacrifice.  If one is to attain highly they must understand that there will be required of them great sacrifice.  If you desire to be good, you have no need to wait for circumstances to change before you do well.  You can do it now, this very moment, and right where you are.  Remember this, if you are anxious to improve your circumstances and to improve the circumstances of others you must be willing to improve yourself before you try to improve others.  This is done by a study of God's Word, and prayer.  By careful study of God's word His purpose is revealed, first and foremost, to glorify the father through your life and your love and your labors of his redeemed people.  Think upon this and comprehend this by using truth and it will not be difficult for you to understand that we are to pray in our prayer ought to glorify the Father in the Son.  Jesus was not slack in His understanding in what He said: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, but works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father" (John 14: 12).  Jesus would not say that if it was an obvious fact that man has both the moral and the mental capacity to perform the works of God in this world.  Yes it is true, all men do not have the same natural abilities to serve God in the world.  But, all Christians have the ability by the power of the Holy Spirit to serve God in this world.  Paul has pointed out to us that from the beginning of time through the Scriptures God revealed to us His promises.  Jesus Christ became a servant and confirmed what was spoken by God through men: "Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm that promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and seemed to your name (2 Samuel 22: 50; Psalm 18: 49).  And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his That people!  (Deuteronomy 30 2:42)!  And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!  Laud him That, all you people's" (Psalm 117: 1)!  And again, I say says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; and he That who shall rise to brain over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope" (Isaiah 11: 10).  Do not hesitate to accept this fact, God imparts a measure of His life and love to His redeemed people.  It is not impossible for Him to impart sufficient measure of His faith to His people to sustain them in this life, in this world of doubt and disbelief.  In our efforts to show brotherly love to those who are informed in weakness in regards to their faith we have all the power to sustain us in our efforts and we have no valid reason to doubt that God can and will increase the measure of our faith, and the faith of others.  Let us cry out as did the disciples: "And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith"" (Luke 17:5).  Do not mistake that we can receive some measureless degree of faith that only the infinite God possesses in his divine person.  Jesus did encourage us though to believe that we can have a measure of God's faith to enable us to accomplish His purpose in redemption.  The Savior promises faith, even the smallest of faith: "So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this Mulberry tree, "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea," and it would obey you" (Luke 17:6).  We can become workers alongside our Savior and achieve with Him the eternal purpose of God for God works in His people and through them according to the degree of their faith.  Therefore, we are to grow in our faith if we want God to do great things for His people and for us to believe that He can do great things.  Jesus Christ is made indefensible in this world through unwavering faith and through the unwavering faith of His praying people.

Now may the God of hope filled you with all joy

            and peace in believing, that you may abound

in the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

            Romans 15: 13

Servant of God, Pray, have faith

Richard L. Crumb