Church Fathers, Day Seventy-Eight: Aphrahat wants us feel the power of faith

Feel the power of faith

Running at a gallop through salvation history, Aphrahat tells us that all the great things we read about in the Bible were accomplished by faith.

Let us draw near then, dear friends, to faith, since its powers are so many. For faith raised Enoch up to the heavens and conquered the Flood. It caused the barren to bring forth. It delivered from the sword. It raised up from the pit. It enriched the poor. It released the captives. It delivered the persecuted. It brought down the fire. It divided the sea. It cleft the rock, and gave to the thirsty water to drink. It satisfied the hungry. It raised the dead, and brought them up from Sheol. It stilled the waves. It healed the sick. It conquered armies. It overthrew walls. It stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the flame of fire. It humiliated the proud, and brought the humble to honor. All these mighty works were done by faith.

Now this is faith: you must believe in God the Lord of all, who made the heavens and the earth and the seas and all that is in them; and he made Adam in his image; and he gave the Law to Moses; he sent his Spirit on the prophets; moreover, he sent his Christ into the world. Furthermore, you must believe in the resurrection of the dead; and should also believe in the sacrament of baptism. This is the faith of the Church of God.

–Aphrahat, Demonstration on Faith, 18-19

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Aphrahat’s description of faith is simple and comprehensive. Does my faith match that description?

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, increase my faith in you, and bring my trust to the fulfillment you have promised in the eternal bliss of your Kingdom.

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