Faith is Something We Do

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” James 2:15-16 (NIV)

Jesus showed us that faith is practical. When we see a need, we do something about it.

Faith is more than something you just feel. Many people confuse emotions and feelings with faith. They come to church and they’re moved emotionally, they're inspired, and they're stimulated. But that doesn’t mean they’re walking in faith.

The Bible says faith is something we do, not just what we feel. In other words, faith is not mere sentimentality. Let’s say I go out on the street and I see someone who is homeless and destitute. I see that person is hungry, cold, in need of clothing and shelter. Would I be showing great faith if I walked up and said, “Cheer up! Don't worry, be happy! Feel good! Put on a happy face?”

It doesn’t take much faith to do that. Faith carries compassion. Faith says, “I’ll do anything I can to stop your hurt.” Throughout the New Testament, the witnesses say Jesus was moved with compassion for people. Jesus showed us that faith is practical.

When we see a need, we do something about it. We don't just toss out a quick - “Well, I'll pray for you.” The Bible says we show our faith by what we do.

by Rick Warren

---

Grow in Faith by Being Faithful

"Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22 (NIV) Do you find that some days you’re staring at your circumstances and making faithless judgments about the things you see? I know I struggle with believing the biblical truth that God is present in all circumstances, particularly when it is a no-good-dirty-rotten day. Jesus, on the other hand, was certain about the reality of God and certain about God’s presence in his life. Think about this: Heading into a crisis that would cost him his life, Jesus was so certain of God’s presence that, during the Last Supper, not one of his disciples discerned the gravity of the circumstances! Jesus was confident that God was not only present, but also working through the circumstances. And, yes, later that evening Jesus began sweating blood from the strain of it all, but he still remained confident that the Father was there and aware. He trusted God was working things out. We, too, can be certain that God is working in our lives. We develop this radical faith when we learn to trust in God’s character, when we decide, in faith, that God is who he says he is and that he will do what he says he will do. We come to know that God is faithful when we do the things he tells us to do and then see that he did come through on his promises. In other words, we grow in faith by being faithful. We trust Jesus and see that he is real, and that makes us trust him even more.

by: Jon Walker

"What do you fear?"

I watched a child in the mall yesterday as she was kicking and screaming. 
Her parents were trying their best to calm her down.

I also watched the people passing by them. Some shook their heads and
saw the child as a spoiled, "give me what I want now," child.  Others paused
and offered a few kind words to both the child and parents.

"You're such a beautiful little girl.  Such a beautiful girl shouldn't cry,"
one lady said.

"Don't be so sad.  We all have bad days," added another.

"I think she's a spoiled brat," I heard one whisper to a friend.

None of them were right.  The child was neither spoiled nor having a bad day.

She was afraid.

The parents told me afterwards that someone carrying a coat scared her. 
She's afraid of dogs.  The coat looked like a big dog.

They went on to explain that it is a challenge for them to go places. 
Friends have dogs, neighbors nearby walk their dogs down the street.

So, you can imagine what it's like to try to get through a day without sending
your child into a panic.

I can remember, as a child walking up the steps at night I would get the feeling
that someone or some thing was going to grab my feet.  So, I ran most of the time.

I'll admit that occasionally as an adult I do the same thing.

Fear.  What you fear the most in life, owns you,controls you, limits you. 

I struggle with the fear of heights, but I fight it.

My wife sent me off in a glider on my 60th birthday.  I was fine.  I was better than
fine, I was great!

If I could have one foolish child-like wish come  true it would be to have the ability
to fly like a bird.

The truth is fear can be debilitating.  Fear cripples many, limits abilities to enjoy
even the simplest things in life and in some cases stops people from having
medical procedures that could prevent major health issues.

Fear also crushes dreams.

Sometimes our own fears are imposed on others around us affecting their views
and impacting their ability to live life fully...all in the name of love, concern and
good parenting.

Someone once used the acronym F.E.A.R as False Evidence Appearing Real.

I'm not sure that applies to all fear.  One might have had a bad experience with
a dog and now that fear is real, relevant in their lives.

But, I think the kind of fear I believe we can deal with is the fear that reinforces
doubt.

In particular poor self image issues either self imposed or wrongfully fed to you
by others in your life or the world in general.

Fear and doubt are enemies of faith.  They are the enemy that you permit to
control your decisions even when you declare your faith in God.

You give them power over you.  The enemy doesn't want you to be happy,
successful, or faithful.  The enemy wants you to fail and stay there.  Why?

Because successful, happy, healthy people give credit for their happiness to
God even when they face their fears they declare their belief in the God who fears nothing.

"Fear prevents, faith prevails!"

By Bob Perks

Faith: Doing Exactly What Jesus Says to Do

“Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” John 9:7–8 (NIV) "Jesus uses your desperation to push you toward your purpose." Then Jesus said, “Go . . . wash in the pool of Siloam” (John 9:7 NIV). At first, the blind man may have hesitated, confused about how going to Siloam would give him sight. He may have been wondering, “Why would Jesus make me do this when he could have simply healed me back there?” But his desperation pushed him toward the Pool of Siloam, just as Jesus uses your desperation to push you toward your purpose. The blind man may have heard the laughter and ridicule as people watched him stumble toward the pool: “Look at that fool with the mud on his face.” “Even we can’t see with mud in our eyes!” “Are you crazy enough to think you’ll really be healed?” But the blind man could not be shamed from doing whatever it took to be healed. Jesus told him what to do, and if that meant washing his face in the Pool of Siloam, then that’s what he’d do, no matter what anyone else said. Siloam means “sent”—Jesus sent and the man went, and once he’d washed his face, the man could see! Faith means doing exactly what Jesus says to do. When Jesus finished rubbing mud into the blind man’s eyes, he didn’t say, “Now quickly wipe away the mud.” He didn’t say, “Go to the nearest well for water and then wash your face.” He said. “Go to Siloam.” When Jesus tells us what to do, we need to pay close attention to the details. Otherwise, we may act according to our assumptions -- according to what the Jesus we imagine in our minds might tell us to do. You want to follow the real Jesus, who not only knows what he is doing, but also has your best interest at heart. by Jon Walker, author, Costly Grace