Raising Our Dead
October 2, 2007
Bible Reading:
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ~St. James 2:21-22 (NKJV)
Bonus Reading: St. Mark 16:16-18 & Galatians 5
To many Christians, “faith” means sincerely believing something is true when you don’t have any evidence. In fact, faith is acting on what you know full well is true: God is able to keep his promise and can be trusted
to do it. Faith that is only theoretical conviction isn’t faith yet. Real faith—living faith, saving faith—believe…and shudder at the thought—because the simple belief has not changed who they really are. Where have we allowed our faith to change our lives—showing us that God is at work in them?
God had promised Abraham that Isaac would be the father of an entire nation. When the Lord commanded him to sacrifice his only son, faith wasn’t some abstract issue of believing without evidence. Faith meant taking the risk of obedience—frightening as it was—because Abraham knew God could keep the promise even if Isaac died. Raising a son from the dead is right down God’s alley!
The life of faith is a life of taking risks that aren’t actually risky. When God puts a challenge before us—even one that seems crazy to our human nature—we can step out in confidence because we know God is
able and faithful. When our faith and actions are working together, then our faith will be made complete.
The question is—where do we have dead requiring raising in our lives? Are we willing to take God at His Word by risking ourselves in action based on our belief?
Contemplative Prayer: “Lord, what You want from us is exciting—and a little frightening, too. It would be a lot easier to just stay with our ‘business as usual’ lives, but You have something seriously amazing in store for us if we will match our beliefs with obedience. Please strengthen our confidence in Your power and trustworthiness, and grant us the courage to step out in faith when you give us opportunities to prove how much we really trust You.”
Think about it: The life of faith is taking risks in Him that aren’t actually risky.
Grace and peace,
Chip+
