Faith Without Works

Faith – Complete trust or confidence in GOD. Works – Exercising your faith in GOD.

The Message Bible says, “Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”?”

In my early days of salvation, I immediately got involved with church work. I went to every Sunday service and every Bible study. I sang in the choir. I served as an usher. I worked in the dining hall. I helped clean the church. I thought that working within the building somehow was right standing with God. I completely lost my identity to works. When it came to evangelism, it was easy to witness to people I knew. But the thought of compelling strangers to come to the Lord scared me. Where was my faith?

I did this for many years when I realized that something within was missing. Tired of being religious, I remember telling a preacher friend one time that I was bored with church work. Sacrilege!!! You would have thought I put Jesus back up on the cross and crucified him again. Before hurriedly leaving my presence as though I was about to be struck by lightning, the preacher sternly said, “God is NOT boring!” After that reprimand, I was left standing in the doorway of the church all alone and completely misunderstood. While waiting for the bolt to strike me, I said, “Lord, I’m not bored with you, I am bored with church work. Am I wrong for feeling this way? What about us? What about our relationship? I want you.”

I thought about the Roman officer who made an urgent plea to Jesus concerning his paralyzed servant. According to Matthew, our Lord was willing to go to the commander’s home and heal him (Jesus’ words). The officer – recognizing the greater power – practiced what he preached. He followed his example by exercising his faith based on the authority and commands he was accustomed to giving. I don’t know what relationship the servant had with this officer, but this man of authority humbled himself and exposed his compassionate yet confident side to such a degree that Jesus even marveled at his faith.

I had enough faith to accept the Lord, but did I have enough faith in Jesus that he would marvel over me? Do you have that type of faith in the Lord? Challenges are sometimes hard, and when they come, exercising our faith is the perfect opportunity to work at trusting God. When it was asked of Jesus, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Jesus succinctly said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)

Faith in God will sustain us and will grow stronger as we completely work to trust Him.