[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-0825":3},"AUGUST 25 \nShut up to faith (Gal. 3:23).\r\nGod, in olden time suffered man to be kept in ward by the law that\r\nhe might learn the more excellent way of faith. For by the law he\r\nwould see God's holy standard and by the law he would see his own utter helplessness; then he would be glad to learn God's way of\r\nfaith.\r\nGod still shuts us up to faith. Our natures, our circumstances,\r\ntrials, disappointments, all serve to shut us up and keep us in\r\nward till we see that the only way out is God's way of faith. Moses tried by self-effort by personal influence, even by violence, to\r\nbring about the deliverance of his people. God had to shut him up forty years in the wilderness before he was prepared for God's\r\nwork.\r\nPaul and Silas were bidden of God to preach the Gospel in Europe.\r\n\r\nThey landed and proceeded to Philippi. They were flogged, they were\r\nshut up in prison, their feet were put fast in the stocks. They\r\nwere shut up to faith. They trusted God. They sang praises to Him in the darkest hour, and God wrought deliverance and salvation.\r\nJohn was banished to the Isle of Patmos. He was shut up to faith.\r\nHad he not been so shut up, he would never have seen such glorious visions of God.\r\nDear reader, are you in some great trouble? Have you had some great\r\ndisappointment have you met some sorrow, some unspeakable loss? Are\r\nyou in a hard place? Cheer up! You are shut up to faith. Take your  trouble the right way. Commit it to God. Praise Him that He maketh \"all things work together for good,\" and the \"God worketh for him\r\nthat waiteth for him.\" There will be blessings, help and\r\nrevelations of God that will come to you that never could otherwise have come; and many besides yourself will receive great fight and\r\nblessing because you were shut up to faith. --C. H. P.\r\nGreat things are done when men and mountains meet, These are not done by jostling in the street.",1783499793485]