Faith In Action

One of the most discussed subjects in the Christian belief is the concept of faith. Faith is an interesting topic because without it no one can please God (Hebrews 11:6). It is the backbone of Christianity, and everything is built around it. Take faith out of the believer's life and he/she will become as an empty balloon, tossed to and fro, and carried away by the wind of life. 

What is faith?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the prerequisite for our walk with God. God demands it because it is through its lens that we can come to know of Him. Based on the biblical definition of faith, it is simply believing in something you cannot prove. But there are two aspects of it: intellectual assent and trust. Intellectual assent is when deep down within yourself you believe something to be true without argument. Trust on the other hand is moving beyond what you believe into actually relying on what you believe to be true. 

God is a Spirit and no one has ever seen Him before. So our faith in God is our assurance and conviction that He is God and that He exists. 

Faith has a rewarding effect 

 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

The work of faith does not ends at salvation. By faith we believed in Christ Jesus and were saved by His grace. Howbeit, faith transcends beyond salvation to bring us an immeasurable rewards from God. Since we were saved by faith, it is faith in God that sustains us in our Christian life. 

God delights in walking with people that are full of faith. When Jesus walked on the face of the earth, He was often astonished at the lack of faith of the people and rebuked them for it. But whenever He saw those with faith, He stood in awe and was moved to recommend them. So faith is very important to God. He has given us a great assurance that our faith in Him as we diligently seek Him will not go unrewarded. 

It is not enough to only believe in the mighty power of God. Faith without action is dead (James 2:26). We don't need to be confused with the sayings of James. Faith in salvation is void of works. We don't work for our salvation as the scripture states, “To him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5). However, the rewarding faith in the area of our blessings demands action. 

We need to act on what we believe. Hebrew 11:6 says that as we come to God we must believe that He is. That statement means that we have to believe in His existence and believe that He is who He is. God is who He is. With that belief we move on to believe Him for greater works in our lives without doubting. 

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.

1 Samuel 14:6

Jonathan, the son of Saul, demonstrated his faith by acting it out and not just believing that God will save him and his people. While Israel was surrounded by an enemy and all the people went in hiding, including Saul, Jonathan strengthened himself in the LORD and took his servant to go against the enemy. It was just the two of them against many. Nevertheless, Jonathan wasn't frightened. He knew the God he serves and believed in Him that He is able to use the two of them to overcome the enemy. While everyone was afraid to go against the enemy, in fear of being destroyed, Jonathan and his servant demonstrated their faith in God, and their faith did not go unrewarded. 

And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. 

1 Samuel 14:13-15

God is not limited in resources nor His hand short in saving His people. He requires our faith to work on our behalf. Our faith in Him shows our deepest trust and confidence in Him.