Reflections, January 27, 2013

Reflections January 27th, 2013

“Live Out Your Faith”

“The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Scripture Reading For This Week: Genesis 15; 41; Philippians 4; Hebrews 7;11; James 2; Revelation 19:1...

Each day we arise; that the Father has blessed us with life, is a new day of opportunities. The opportunity to live out our faith. The opportunity to walk according to the will of God concerning our lives. The opportunity to be who God ordained us to be. The opportunity to tell someone else about the goodness of our Heavenly Father. The opportunity to testify of all that God has done for us. The opportunity to be that witness that changes someone's life for the better.

I declare and decree that this week's Reflections is a continued source of encouragement for your heart, mind, soul and spirit. This week you will walk in the fullness that God has ordained for your life. You will see what God sees concerning you. You will not hesitate to take every opportunity and live out your faith. And in your living, be a witness that will draw many to God.

We are all faced with obstacles each and every day that we are in this earth. That's just the way it is. However, we have what many others may not have, and that is a relationship with God. Our relationship with the Father comes with many benefits. Benefits that so many of us have not taken part in. Benefits that we do not even recognize. Why? I can only surmise that too many of us have been distracted by what's going on around us, that we have taken our eyes off of God and have stopped fully believing in what He has told us.

That's a shame. It is a real shame that so many of us are missing out on so much because we have stopped believing in what God has declared over our lives. We have stopped believing in the word, because the circumstances in our lives have hardened our heart and weakened our faith. So much so, that we find it more difficult each day to live out our faith.

Here's what I've come to learn and understand: Faith and action go hand in hand.

We can believe God, walk in faith, believing that He will do just what He said. Yet, if we do not apply action to our faith by carrying out the instructions of the Lord; by living holy and righteous and living out the word of God each and every day, our faith is nothing. And should we be doing good deeds and 'living' the part of the believer, but do not have faith or believe that God will do just what He said; then our works are in vain.

When we are living out our faith in the Lord, we receive daily benefits. The grace of God. The mercy of God. The joy of the Lord which is our strength. We increase our understanding of who God is and who we are in Him when we live out our faith. We receive instructions and help in the time of need. We have the armor of God to fully cloth us for all battles. We have access to the throne 24/7. God hears us and acts upon our faith each and every time we call. We have the added benefits of seeing others be brought to Christ; to see others come into the knowledge of how much God loves them, when we ourselves, as believers fully live out our faith and believe all that God has called us to believe, and live it out daily without hesitation or shame, and with certainty and boldness.

James 2: 15-17; 21, 22 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, 16 And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do? 17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead). 21 Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac? 22 You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works. AMP

How does someone come to know about the love of God; about who the Father is if they have never seen an example of our Father in action? How do they know the love of God and what faith is if we, who are children of God, do not walk in our faith or believe that just doing good deeds is enough?

We must begin to live out our faith. To walk the the talk that we have been talking. To do as God has instructed us to do. To do all that we have seen Jesus do. To become the hands and feet and arms of Jesus upon this earth.

What good is it to have faith and believe in what God has spoken but never apply any work to that faith? Do you know how many people claim to the love the Lord and have faith and take up space on the pew each and every worship day; or, stand behind a pulpit preaching about believing and having faith but have yet to put into action that faith? They have never helped another person or extended themselves beyond a smile or a wish of good tiding. They have never really put into practice their faith because their faith is based upon words and a form of godliness and tradition.

Then we have those that believe that if they do enough good deeds or works that, surely God will accept this as their key into heaven; believing they can buy their way into heaven by the works that they do. I often wonder what would happen if they were unable to do those deeds. What if something occurred in their life where they became destitute? No money, no job. What if they loss the use of their bodily functions? What then?

Beloved, we must begin to live out our faith in such a way that it is allowing the Christ in us to shine forth. We must simply do what Jesus did. Follow His instructions. Follow His example. Back up your faith with actions. Apply the word of God to all that you do and say. And let your actions and good deeds be based upon your faith. Believe that it is because of your faith that you are able to do what it is that you do.

I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity will find permanent rest in your lives: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially. Let your actions speak for your faith. And likewise, allow your faith to motivate your actions. Live out your faith with boldness and honor to our living God. May your faith and actions draw others to a life in Christ. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing.

©2013. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.