Take a Seat.
Reading Time: 5 minutes
“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”
James 2:14-20
Words like belief, trust, and faith are often used interchangeably; however, belief and trust are at times different. Imagine a chair. You can see it, know what it does, and how it works. You can touch it and even watch others use it. But your belief that the chair exists doesn't turn into trust until you put your weight on it and sit. You can see the chair, touch the chair, and even tell others to use the chair, yet still not trust it enough to sit and treat it like it is capable of holding your weight. In the same way, you can believe something to be true, yet not allow the truth to affect your life or your reality. Faith is more than just believing something or someone exists, it is the reaction to their existence. True belief should result in trust. True belief should result in action.
When people say, “Faith without works is dead”, it doesn’t mean that works (actions) produce faith. We have to get our order right. Acts of faith don't get us right with God. However, belief allows you to bear fruit. Putting your faith in God gives Him the space to show you more of who He is. Putting your faith in Jesus, both who He is and what He does allows you to live out your reality in a new way. Belief builds action which, in turn, may build your faith. Believing God enough to act like what He is saying is true allows you to experience Him, which in turn grows your faith to try Him again. That is how we do this exercise of faith-building.
James, the brother of Jesus, writes this letter (the book of James) as an explanation of Christian life in action. This letter is regarded as one of the most practical books of the Bible, with many quotations from wisdom literature such as proverbs. (You know I love it when the Bible is explained simply and clearly. So much of the Bible is said and read, but not understood.) James describes the concept that belief in God is more than regarding His existence as true. Belief should result in action. If you believe it will rain, you will react by getting an umbrella. If you believe you're hungry, you will react by feeding yourself. True belief should change how you relate to your reality.
Faith is the action of believing in God to the point that you act like what He is saying and doing is true. So many of us believe God exists, but don't act like He is who He says He is. And this is a continual journey. This path of further believing in God, and trusting what He said He will do is like a workout. The more you try Him out, the more confirmation you will have to try Him for more. In sports, if you play well, your coach will often give you more playing time. If you are seen as a valuable asset, you get trusted with more time playing for the team. Faith is seeing God move in one quarter and then giving Him the space to play two quarters the next time. As you see Him move, it will prompt you to trust Him more.
Faith is not delusionally acting like the negatives or dangers in your life don't exist. It’s just believing that there is Someone who holds your future. Faith isn't forgetting the threat. It’s believing the Player on your team can win anyway. And as you give that Player the space to do what they do, they will accomplish victories for your whole team. But if you keep them on the bench and don't give them a shot, they will never be able to win this for you or even contribute.
Hebrews 11 actually reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. You won't give God the space to be God in your life if you don't first believe He can. I know it may be scary but no one is expecting you to be walking on water tomorrow. Just ask Him to reveal Himself to you. I'm praying we will allow God to open our eyes so that we can see His strength. I want to see His power so that I can trust Him with more of me. I want to see others trust Him so that I can trust Him more. Faith is a belief that results in more belief. Faith is the process of continually trying God. You can't produce the good deeds and fruit you desire without faith. You won't see a change in your life without believing change is possible. You won't experience better without believing better is available.
In Luke 17:5, the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith and I'm asking for the same thing. The fact that they asked meant they already had the faith to know He could. And that's a lot of us. We just know we need more. You may be the person who has seen God move and wants to experience more or you're the person who wants to start believing for the first time. I'm praying that God will give you faith that results in more. I'm praying that your faith is alive and well, moving and growing with time. I pray that your faith produces fruit. I pray that God increases your faith.
Don't just believe the chair exists, start putting your weight on it.
This ministry has been a faith walk for me. It’s hard to step out on faith and start a ministry you don't know how you will pay for. Please prayerfully partner with me by pledging to a recurring donation through the website or by giving to CashApp ($ThoughtsByPace), so that we can continue to pay for website upkeep, messaging software, and proofreading personnel. God provides for the things He calls you to, so I know He will continue to sustain this ministry, even when I know I can't on my own. Thank you for your prayers, shares, and support!
- Pace