Belief is a tough word because many think it only occurs in one’s mind. However, when a person believes, you can see their belief in their actions. James said to be “doers of the words and not hearers only.” (James 1.22)
Remember that Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7.16)
So, how do you know what someone believes?
Consider the life of Richard Wurmband. Richard spent 14 years in prison because of his faith in Christ. Three of those 14 years were spent in solitary confinement. During those years, Richard was tortured, but his faith never left. It is interesting to note that Richard had once been a strong non-believer, but he changed. His new life and choice was to tell as many people as he could about Jesus. After being released from prison, Richard Wurmbrand wrote a book containing this quote, “A man really believes not what is recited in his creed, but only the things he is ready to die for.”1
Jesus calls for His followers to let their lights shine. (Matthew 5.14-16) Each person whose light is shining allows others to see God. Your belief and conviction in God are clearly seen in your actions.
Do you believe?
Just some thoughts,
1 – Tortured For Christ, Richard Wurmbrand, 50th Anniversary Edition, 2017, p.83
The apostle Peter is known for two things (1) putting his foot in his mouth often and (2) delivering the sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Those two events in Peter’s life are his most well-known, but also a testimony to his personal growth.
Peter followed Christ after his brother Andrew brought him to see Jesus (John 1.41-42). Who knew that fisherman from a small town in Galilee would follow the Messiah for three years, open his mouth too soon, yet stand before other followers of Jesus and deliver a message which would, through the power of God, convert over 3,000 people from the beginning. (Acts 2.41)
Who knew?
God knew.
God knew that one person had the power to share a message and convert others.
Jesus knew.
From their first meeting, Jesus called Peter “Cephas” which means rock. Whether it is a look into Peter’s character or his firmness in his beliefs, we know that the word “rock” would mean greater things as the years went on. (Note Matthew 16.16-18)
What caused such growth in Peter? What caused Peter to go from being a fisherman to being a gospel preacher? What allowed Peter to go from an open mouth to preaching from an open heart?
Peter was not a PH.D. candidate, nor was he a theological scholar, yet the Jewish leaders noticed something about his life. They noticed that this “uneducated, common” man had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13)
Because Peter spent time with Jesus, people saw his boldness and his life. Spending time with Jesus not only changed Peter’s life, but it will change your life.
How can you spend time with Jesus?
Open his words and spend time with His followers being encouraged together.
As rocks fell upon the body of the preacher Stephen, standing close was one holding the coats of the stone throwers who agreed with the death sentence of a preacher of God. His name…Saul. He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees and held to the law, blameless. It was this Saul who, just a little later, would carry documents to Damascus, allowing him to put Christians in jail; perhaps to meet the same sentence as Stephen.
Sometimes it might be hard to believe it was this same man Saul who would, in a short period, start speaking to the Christians as one of their own. The Christians even had a hard time believing it. Why would a staunch Pharisee convert to Christianity? How could he leave behind everything he believed and live as a Christian? The answer was simple…Jesus.
You know of Saul’s discussion with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9 and his baptism in Acts 9.18, but do you remember his words in 1 Timothy 1.15 – “the chief of sinners.” Saul, later to be called Paul, carried a burden with him because of his past. Even though he might have carried this burden, he knew that living in the past was not his purpose. His purpose was to continue to run to the race to receive the prize (Philippians 3.12-14).
Paul knew that focusing on the past would steer one off the track of righteousness. Jesus had spoken of this in Luke 9.62. We need to remember this as Christians, focus on the prize ahead not on the events behind. Colossians 3.2 tells us to, “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.”
Let us strive, as Paul did, to press onto the prize of Jesus Christ.
Call it slothfulness, call it inactivity, but call it what it is – laziness.
In chapter one of his letter, James makes it clear, “Be doers of the words, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1.22) We should remember that James is writing to all his readers, not a select group. James is writing to Christians. His reminder is one of action.
In the second chapter, James says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2.17) If we are faithful people, our actions will accompany our faith. Our faith and actions will work together to shine our lights and cause others to ask questions regarding our faith. (See Matthew 5.14-16 and 1 Peter 3.15)
It is the responsibility of all Christians to grow. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, James writes that we must be doers. It is not enough to just hear the word, but the second part is to actively begin taking actions upon the words heard.
The Hebrews writer takes a different approach than most in his challenge to his readers in Hebrews 5.11-14 by showing them what happened when they did not grow.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14)
The early church struggled with this laziness as well. One of the most outstanding verses regarding this principle would cause a huge battle if our world practiced it today, “If a man is not willing to work, let him not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) Those are tough words, but those words combat laziness.
The church needs to rise to the opportunity to share the message that the Almighty God wants active children, not slothful ones.
In the October 2018 issue of Mature Living, Zig Ziglar is quoted as saying, “For 24 years of my adult life, by choice, I weighed well over 200 pounds. I say ‘by choice’ because I have never accidentally eaten anything. I mean, it’s always been deliberate. And when I choose to eat too much today, I have chosen to weigh too much tomorrow.”
Our choices have consequences. When we make the choice, we also deal with the consequences of those decisions. Whether it is food, our faith, our work, or our faith, choices drive our life in various directions.
What choices have you made that influenced your life in a large way?
Have you considered the choices of the Bible and how they affect your life?
The apostles made the choice to follow Jesus’ word and stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. (Acts 1.8) As a result, the Day of Pentecost came upon them and over 3,000 people were added to the church (Acts 2.47).
God gave His only Son so the world could have the opportunity for everlasting life (John 3.16-17). The choice of God to have His Son bear the sins of the world (Isaiah 53.4,5,10) gave each of us hope for the future. Because of God gave His Son to die for our sins, we can live with God forever. (Ephesians 2.14)
The choice of Christ to suffer death on the cross despite the pain, agony, and humiliation (Matthew 26.39,42,44). He knew what the choice would be to become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. (John 1.29) As a result, Christ tasted death for everyone (Hebrews 2.9) so we could live with Christ as He brought many sons to glory. (Hebrews 2.10).
The great choices of the Bible influence our lives today. They have brought to our lives the salvation of the gospel, God’s saving grace, and His everlasting mercy.
