Living By Faith

A Devotion for Those Who Serve Our Nation

LIVING BY FAITH

I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

There are three ways we can think about our lives. We may think that as individuals we count for nothing. That is the way of pessimism, which cuts the nerve of effort and leads to weakness and despair.

We may think that we are all-important. That is the way of egotism, and leads to a distorted sense of values that prevents harmonious cooperation with other people for ends which are greater than ourselves.

Or we may think of our lives as having meaning in the purposes of God. That is the way of responsibility. It does not result in a sense of futility or self-importance, but it does take life seriously. That is the way of Christian faith.

As humans, we can stand almost anything except the fear that when we have given our best or endured the worst, after all it made no real difference what we did or who we were. Life takes on a new depth and richness when we confront all of life’s contingencies with the faith that this adventure of living counts in the purposes of God, and that we count.

O GOD, our Help in ages past, our Hopes for years to come; we who need Thy help and hope turn to Thee, who hast been the abiding Friend of all people of all times, in all places. Shine Thou within our hearts, giving us the light of knowledge of Thy glory in the face of Christ. Set our feet in the ways Thou hast chosen for us. Confirm our spirits in the faith which overcomes the world. Teach us to be Christ’s disciples, and to find in Him our life and our peace. Amen.

Morgan Phelps Noyes
Central Presbyterian Church, Montclair, N.J.

Note: This meditation is taken from Strength for Service to God and Country, edited by Norman E. Nygaard, revised edition b y Evan Hunsberger.

Strength for Service to God and Country was written after Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941. Over one million copies were sold. This devotional meditation and the collection of others were written to bring guidance and strength during World War II and the Korean War.

A sailor who had this book in his possession for many years gave his copy to his fifteen year old grandson. This grandson, Evan Hunsberger, decided to honor his grandfather’s memory by revising this book as an Eagle Scout Project. The General Commission on the United Methodist Men assisted Evan in its development with fundraising for its publication. Providence House Publishers shared the same vision. Evan, a Roman Catholic, received the Good Samaritan Award.

This devotional book represents the broad spectrum of faith and was expanded with additional writings. Published in 1942, it was renewed by Norman E. Nygaard in 1969.

May we continue to live by God’s guidance in dangerous and difficult times. Strength, wisdom, and courage will help us through each and every era of change and conflict, Christ being our daily companion.

Dennis Ginoza
November 24, 2009