October 8

Of all the graces, faith is the Christian's cup- bearer. The Christian takes the wine of joy out of faith's hand, rather than from any other grace. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Romans 15:13).

The apostle Paul gives preeminence to faith, attributing the Christian's joy to his faith rather than to his love. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8). Mark the key word in that passage: "believing, ye rejoice." Here is the door where the Christian's joy comes in. God allows us to rejoice only in Christ. "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

Christ's blood is the only wine which gladdens God's heart and satisfies His justice at the same time. Therefore it is all that can bring true gladness into the heart of man. When Christ promises the Comforter, He tells His desciples about the vessel He will use to draw the wine of joy. "He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:15). No grape of our own harvest is pressed into this sweet cup. It is as if Christ says, "When He comes to comfort you with the forgiveness of your sins, He will take of mine, not anything of yours. I purchased your peace with God with my blood, not by your tears of repentance or mourning for your sins."

The Christian's joy flows from Christ alone, not from any human source. But faith discovers unsearchable riches in Christ and reveals to the Christian all that it sees and knows of Him. And it is faith that makes an opening in our hearts for the promises and then pours in the sweet realities of God's Word (see Romans 10:17).

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