The morning call., 1893-02-27


complshed by the true and living faith.
1.-The stronger and grander our faith Is
the sweeter and more soulful Will we enjoy
tie service Of our Christ. the more Will We
taste and experience how friendly the Lord
is and the better will we be equipped TO
fight against all temptations.
1T IS for this reason the Lord gives Us
examples in his book, which Illustrate
grand and strong faith. like In the text Of
to-day, the woman of Canaan.
This brings us to the question wherein
the faith Of the woman Of Canaan is proven
to he so great and strong.
at was not because she showed great
natural force of character and f0Tii.ude-
she was only weak woman.
Again, II Is rot because she was more
VirtuOns before the Lord or better than
others-she had been a non believer and at
one time worshped idols.
- gain it could not have been because
she occupied a high social position, because
she was heavy bHTdened and her daughter
was possessed of the devil.
The true reason why her faith had
proven Itself to be so strong and great is
because in her terrible need she turned to
Christ as the only helper and told him of
her troubles, fully satisfied that he alone
could and would give her relief
Further. her faith was not shaken even
when the Lord refused to hear her prayer
and gave her first no answer at all. and
then app aTently refused to DO anything for
her.
''She threw herself on her knees and still
having faith cried: Help me, o Lord
THE Lord then intimaied that she had
no share in him by saying 1t is not meet
to take the chlidTen's bread and cast it to
the dogs But strong and great in her
faith she persisted, acknowledging her own
unworthIness. She continued to beg for at
least dogs share of grace. whereupon the
Lord gave her the testimony, % woman,
great is thy faith
The next question which arises is. What
caused her faith TO be so great and strOng?'
1T was neither her personal strength of
character nor belief on her part that she
was entitled 10 any belief. but simply be-
cause she had heard Of tile words Of Jesus,
in which be promised help and grace for all
sinners, and she firmly relied on this.
These words Of promise were suTer than
than everything else. On these words she
built her hopes and confidence in her need
and weakness anu in spite Of being self
conscious of her worthiness.
when the Lord gave her no reply at first
she certainly must have been surprise aud
when she met with his apparent refusal she
probably considered IL strange, but she
firmly held TO the words of promise and
continued to believe that all sinners, with
out exception, will receive grace.
when the Lord spoke 10 her and it
seemed as If he would shut her out from
his grace she held him by his words of
promise and asked. according to their
deeper meaning, for a crun,b of grace. il
only so much of it as he would not begrudge
even to a dog.
"And lookl The Lord was through his
own words won over and said: %, woman
great is thy faith; be it unto thee as thou
wiltY
"And her daughter was made whole from
that hour.
Let us learn from this example what
strong faith means, namely, unshakable
confidence in Gods grace and help even
under the severest temptation for doubt.
Let rs also learn how TO strengthen our
feeble faith by having firm and uncbange-
able confidence in the words of the divine
promise of grace"