True Faith Is An Active Faith

The story is told of a tight-rope walker in a circus who once asked his audience this question: “How many of you believe that I can walk backwards?” Everyone in the audience raised their hand. He then walked backwards on the rope and asked, “How many of you believe that I can ride a bicycle across the rope?” Again, every hand was raised. He rode the bicycle across the rope and then asked, “How many of you believe that I can push a wheelbarrow across the rope?” The same response was given. Finally, he asked, “Who will volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow?” Not a hand was raised!

Dear reader, it’s relatively easy to “say” we believe something (cf. James 2:19), but to demonstrate our faith, is sometimes a different story. The apostle Paul admonishes us to: “walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised” (Romans 4:12).

Abraham’s faith was characterized by the following two qualities:

1) He accepted God’s word without doubt or hesitation (Hebrews 11:8; cf. Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:2-4). Also see James 1:5-8).

2) He was motivated to obey God irrespective of the hardships and apparent sorrows involved (Hebrews 11:9; cf. Genesis 12:8). Also see Hebrews 5:5-9; 1 Peter 1:22).

As God’s people, let us never forget that “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6 ESV).

True faith is an active, working faith (James 2:14-26).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets