Doing Faith

June 14

(Luke 12:41-48 NIV) “Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" {42} The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? {43} It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. {44} I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. {45} But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. {46} The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. {47} That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. {48} But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

(James 1:22-25 NIV) “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.”

(James 2:14, 26 NIV) “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?...  {26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Jesus made it clear that faith is more than just something we believe -- it’s something we do. Faith changes us and moves us to action or it is not biblical faith. Faith involves following Jesus and becoming a disciple. It involves a walk with God that takes time and energy. Some Christians think faith is mostly about receiving from God -- but Jesus said much will be “demanded” of us. A “demand” is not a request. When we stand before God we will not be presented with options concerning the color and décor of our room in the heavenly mansion. We will be presented with the book of our life -- that permanent record of our action or inaction. What will be written on your pages in that book? Both grace and the gospel have been given to us with the clear assignment of sharing them with the world. God’s investment in us should be growing. We’ve been entrusted with much. Much will be demanded of us. Genuine faith produces action. What is your faith doing? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day