Work The Faith

Focus: James 2:19-20 - KJV

19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:14-24

Ordinarily, faith is a simple belief in the existence of God and His abilities. Taken to the higher notch, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In simple terms, it is the bringing to bear those things that are not by believing God for His assertions of their existence. The bringing it to bear is what makes faith operational and appreciative. Where God speaks and the recipient of God’s promise does nothing about it, the promise may linger for ever. However, if after God says so, the recipient acts on what He says, believing Him for His word, then is faith actualized to the glory of God. Hence, faith without work, is dead. It is not enough to just believe that God is, for almost every man so believes. God rewards only those who diligently seek Him.

Abraham is called the father of faith not just because he expressed a belief in God, but firstly because, beyond his father’s actions, he believed God for his word and stepped out to possess a land that he did not see which he nevertheless, got the promise of from God. Then, he did not doubt God but stepped out to sacrifice his son at the sound of God’s voice. Sarah too heard the promise of God and made effort to release her seeming dead body to the husband to take and the rest is history. That is faith accomplished by works. All that Jesus instructed to do things and did as were told had testimonies because they made their works actualize their faith. If Naaman had returned to swim in one of the Syrian rivers and not Jordan, even though out of his belief in the God of the Hebrews he came to Samaria, he would still have returned leprous. His obedience was the work that actualized his faith.

The Lord is asking how long we would continue to pay lipservice to having faith in Him. Unless we step out to work out the faith, it remains inactive and therefore dead. Has the Lord promised us something and we are waiting for it to happen like manna from heaven? We are expected to take steps towards actualizing that which we have heard from Him. When we do so, He guides us to the actualization thereof. He said to us that part of the signs that follow believers is to lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Even though we claim to have faith in Him, yet, to simply step out boldly to lay hands on the sick we are afraid to practice. No wonder signs and wonders are no longer following many who are called believers since their belief is not beyond the ordinary belief and therefore dead.

Please pray:

Father, I thank you for the grace to have true faith in you. I know that I have not been active enough with my faith: please be merciful unto me. As from this day, the grace to put my faith in you to work fearlessly, please release upon me, in Jesus’ name. Let the signs and wonders begin anew in Jesus’ name. Let me never put your grace to waste again in Jesus’ name. Make me an example of faith to my generation, in Jesus’ name.

Please share with others. God bless you.