Have you ever heard anyone talk about showing faith like it is some sort of fuzzy feeling they get. Some hard circumstances come along, and they want to move on, but they don't want to completely expose their lack of concern for God's ways, so they begin talking about having faith in "all of this." They speak of it like it is the thing that helps them to keep a stiff upper lip.
James says that faith is shown in good deeds. Faith is demonstrated in action. You can say that you have faith all you want, but if you don't have any works, HA! That isn't real faith at all. It is some sort of distorted dead faith. Faith is not keeping a smile on your face and hoping for the best. It is actually Loving your enemies. (That is following the true definition of Love. Not just some sort of feeling, but acting for their good.) It is being patient towards people. It is showing kindness towards all. True faith produces aggressive good works.
Sometimes people talk about their faith as their ability to see that something good will happen. The misquote the Bible and talk about how God works things for good. What they really mean is that they are hoping that God will get His act together and give them something that they think is good. God is going to work it all out. God will give them the husband they want or the kids they want or the car they want or the life they want.
The "good" that God is working out in your life is to make you more like Christ. So, to "show our faith" is not some inward feeling but an outward expression. It is patience for God's work. It is meekness and kindness. It is suffering for the sake of Christ. It is those who are pure in heart.
Forget the old ways that you were doing things. The ways of selfishness and show that you actually do have faith by participating in God's Kingdom.
Sorry for the rant. It was poorly put together, but it has been on my mind all day.
Mr. Harmless, I needed to read that at this very moment. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWow, when you rant, you just never know who is listening!
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back at blogger.
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI like to replace the word "faith" with the word "trust". (Do I trust God in this situation? Can I trust that He will work it out?)
I just listened to a podcast recently on Faith where the speaker said that:
1. Faith must be confessed. (Rom 10:9) Our mouth must speak what we believe in our hearts.
2. Faith must act. (James 2) Only when the rubber meets the road can God work His truth out in or lives
3. Faith must be tested. God uses situation to refine us and purify us to "make you more like Christ" as you said.
Good reminder!
That is great. Seriously, I am glad you added.
ReplyDeleteMatt
ReplyDeleteAren't there times when life sucks and there isn't anything more you can do but believe that he didn't forgot about you?
That being said, it was a good reminder to me, in a situation where my faith that God didn't forget about me was not backed up by what I was doing.
Good post.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff,
ReplyDeleteGlad you joined blogger world.
True faith always produces actions. You can show patience. You can show kindness to those around you during those sucky times. You can act is selflessness when things aren't going your way.
I guess I was just ranting against those who like to bring up faith issues in their hard times to sound spiritual, but they continue in their selfishness, their disobedience to scripture, their impatience, their lack of meekness and humility. They have faith without the works.