As we close out our Winter Bible Study and our discussion of Faith there is one final thing we need to cover, Faith Requires Action. We need to do something! Not just anything, but actions that reveal and support the faith we claim to have. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
A few weeks back I read something that challenged me. God has led you to the edge. As you stand there and contemplate your next step you realize the reality of faith. You have to take that leap of faith and to do it you have to trust God. His promise is that He will catch you or teach you to fly! Do we trust Him? Remember this verse?
Hebrews 11:1; Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see.
Without trust and faith, we are stuck in the garage. We would be hesitant out on the track. There is a time to test things out and make sure everything is as it should be. Then there is a time to run the race. Having faith in the way the car is prepared goes a long way toward winning the race.
Back in the day, before the 5-minute rule, you could make most any repairs to the car and send it back out on the track to collect some additional laps and maybe gain a spot or two. This was significant when the season was one long championship run and every lap counted. I admire the faith of some of those drivers, putting everything into it as long as they could with a pieced together, bandaged up car.
Opportunity exists but if we don’t have the faith to head into the unknown, we will never experience the presence and blessing of God. I don’t know how that car held together but we made it. It was a wing and a prayer.
James reminds us;
James 2:14-17; What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
We can say we have faith but if it doesn’t result in action it is useless. We see that in some people’s lives, all talk no action. They tell a good story but when it comes time to do something they don’t follow through. We all fall short sometimes of acting on our faith.
Let’s take a look at how our faith can result in action. First, we need to have our priorities right. What priority does the work of God play in our lives? Is it the highest? We need to give to God what is right, not what is left! How many times is God an afterthought? When all else fails I’ll ask God. We need to ask Him first. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus created to serve God
Ephesians 2:8-10; NLT; God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
You see we have to have things in the right order. Works don’t come first; faith does, but that faith should lead us to submit to God and His plan for our lives. God has a to do list for each one of us. If we sit by and wait for an opportunity to come by, we will miss what God has for us. We need to be seeking God, asking Him for directions and join Him where he is working.
A mere profession of faith proves nothing as to its reality; only action can demonstrate faith’s genuineness. Faith is an attitude of the inner man; it can only be seen as it influences the actions of the one who possesses it. It is not enough to claim to have faith we have to live it. We need to act in such a way that shows others that we depend on God. When we are faced with a situation that challenges us beyond our abilities, we should turn to God.
When we need to make decisions or choices whose advice do we follow? Do we try to figure it out for ourselves? Do we trust someone else? Who do we seek out for guidance and direction?
We should turn to God and ask for His direction. God has the right direction for us, but it will require two things. First, that we rely on His power, not ours. Second, it requires that we do something that only God can enable us to do.
Our actions indicate who we place our faith in. Just saying we have faith is not enough, we have to do something.
What are we doing? Are we demonstrating how much we care for others? Are we willing to reach out and help others? Are we willing to set our wants and desires aside and put others first?
When we believe that God will provide what we need we are free to give what we have to others. We show the faith we have by living without the fear of losing what we really do not possess. We should act with a trust and faith that God is able to provide for us no matter what we give away.
Commit to getting active about your faith.
I hope this study has helped you have a better understanding of faith and how we demonstrate who our faith is in. If there are other topics you would like to explore drop me a note; don@rwjm.com. We look forward to providing guidance and direction as God leads us.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
