Miracles of Faith in Action! Part Three

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22

Faith is believing in what cannot be seen; it’s the courage to journey beyond the limits of our understanding. However, faith can be defined anyhow because different people have different definitions of faith due to their personal beliefs and experiences. Nevertheless, a common thread between most definitions is the trust and belief in something bigger than themselves, often including God. People have had to redefine what faith means to them without believing and trusting in God. Because Webster defines faith as “belief and trust in God.” Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

And things that are invisible yet still undeniably real. For example, From the concept of our almighty father (God) to something as intangible as a human soul. So, that alone should redefine our faith in God because faith is not just a mental assent to a set of doctrines or a statement of belief. It is not just intellectual assent. Faith is not passive. It is active. Faith is not theory. It is practice. True faith always leads to action, and the action brings evidence of God’s glory. James says that true faith is our action from “the proof of things not seen.” (paraphrase from James 2:18). In other words, faith always leads to evidence of its reality.

James 2:14 says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?”

The greatest evidence of the reality of faith is when it is put into action. That is when faith is seen at its best. That is when faith is powerful. That is when faith changes lives. The Bible is full of examples of faith in action. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the altar because he believed God would provide a way for him to fulfill his promise. (Genesis 22). The Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground because of their faith in God. (Joshua 3). The walls of Jericho fell when the Israelites marched around them, blowing trumpets and shouting because of their faith. (Joshua 6).

Even the disciples could heal the sick and cast out demons because they had faith in Jesus Christ. (Mark 16:17-18). These are just a few examples of faith in action. So, what have you learned? “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” This is James’ advice to us as we read about miracles of faith in action. We must not be content to only hear about these stories; we must put our faith into action. We must be willing to do what God asks of us, no matter how difficult it may seem. When we do this, we will see the miracles of God’s faithfulness in our lives. Amen. James 2:24 says, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Prayer:
1. My breakthrough in (you name it) and my freedom are not negotiable; I move forward by faith.
2. May God arise and perform miracles beyond explanation in your life in Jesus’ name. Amen.