“I’d been thinking about how faith works and how we need to put that faith into action. Wanting to learn firsthand, I asked God to show me how to have the kind of faith that leads me to do something out of the ordinary, trusting that good would come from it.
Soon after, I felt an unexplainable urge to give $20 to a coworker. I wasn’t sure who, and I knew they didn’t necessarily need the money themselves. But I also felt they might know someone who did. I started praying, asking God to reveal who I should give it to.
Suddenly, doubt crept in. Was this just my imagination, or was God really telling me to do this? But then I remembered that God works all things for good. It didn’t matter who I gave the money to, as long as I did it in faith. God would use it for His purposes.
More negative thoughts came – what if my coworker thinks I’m crazy or just pockets the money? I realized that was the enemy trying to stop me. I rebuked those doubts in Jesus’ name and immediately felt a sense of peace. And then I knew who I was supposed to give the money to.
During a break, I approached my coworker. ‘I know you don’t need this, but I feel like you know someone who does. Please use it for them as you see fit.’ After giving them the money, I went back to my desk. Just minutes later, they came over and told me about a family they knew who had just lost everything in a house fire. All I could say was, ‘God is good.'”
The Bible portrays faith in Jesus as more than just intellectual assent to a set of beliefs. It’s the foundation for a dynamic relationship with God, one that compels action. Here’s how faith translates into action and becomes a tool for God’s work:
Here’s an analogy: Imagine faith as a seed. Beliefs are the nutrients in the soil. When watered by trust and love, the seed sprouts into action. This action, empowered by God, bears fruit that expands his kingdom.
Define Faith: Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) provides a foundation for understanding faith: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Trust in God’s Character: True faith goes beyond intellectual belief in the existence of God. It’s a deep-seated trust in His goodness, faithfulness, power, and His love for us. We rely on who God is, not simply on what we know about Him.
James 2:14-17 (NIV) challenges the idea that mere intellectual assent to Christianity qualifies as saving faith: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? … faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
James uses a stark analogy. A living body naturally displays signs of life – breathing, movement, and growth. Similarly, true faith results in tangible demonstrations of God’s love and transformation in our lives.
James isn’t suggesting we earn salvation through good works. Instead, he emphasizes that genuine faith is expressed through love and service to others. Faith and actions aren’t two separate categories, but intertwined expressions of a transformed heart. When we say we have faith in Jesus, it should impact how we:
Biblical Examples: The Bible is filled with stories of faith propelling action and God’s extraordinary response:
Modern-Day Impact: Let’s revisit my opening story to illustrate how God works through everyday faith:
“Recently, I wanted to experience the connection between faith and action. I prayed, ‘God, show me what it means to have the kind of faith that moves me to step out in the extraordinary, trusting you’ll do good.’ Soon after, I felt strongly compelled to give $20 to a coworker. It wasn’t about the money; I just sensed they might know someone in need.
Doubts crept in. Was this really God, or my imagination? Yet, I recalled God’s perfect goodness. This wasn’t about who got the money – it was about acting in faith. More doubt came, but I rebuked it knowing the enemy wants to derail acts of faith. Peace washed over me and I immediately knew who the recipient should be
Acknowledge Doubts: Moments of excitement about God’s leading are often quickly followed by doubts: “Am I really hearing from God? What if I mess up? People will think I’m crazy!” Remember, even in my $20 story, those same doubts crept in. It’s completely normal!
The Power of Choice: The beautiful thing is, we have a choice. We can let those doubts paralyze us, or we can remember God’s promises and align ourselves with His will. Scripture repeatedly encourages us to act in boldness:
Rebuking Fear: When the enemy of our souls tries to fill our minds with fear and uncertainty, we need to do as I did in my story – rebuke those thoughts in the name of Jesus. Fear holds us back, while faith propels us forward. We must choose faith.
Faith in Jesus isn’t just a set of beliefs; it’s a dynamic force that compels us to act. When we trust God, relying on His character and promises, our faith is put into motion. It transforms us from the inside out and has ripple effects throughout the world
It’s easy to underestimate the power of small acts of obedience done in faith. However, God delights to use even the simplest acts to transform lives and advance His kingdom. May we all be people who say “yes” to His leading, trusting that He will use our faith in extraordinary ways!
