Faith in Action: Moving Beyond Wishful Thinking
Once again, I’ve reminded myself of an important truth about faith: Faith without action is simply wishful thinking. At least, that’s how I see it. Often, I find myself sharing my wishful thoughts with God. And, being the kind and considerate God that He is, He listens. But I believe He would prefer to hear about the steps I’ve taken to further His Kingdom and share His love.
God is more interested in watching me take bold, risky actions than in seeing me live in comfort and ease. I’ve come to believe that He desires me to be active in my faith, not passive. Too many Christians are sitting on the sidelines, offering simple, polite "Get Well" prayers, instead of engaging in action and crying out for help when they’re sinking.
I’m guilty of sitting and doing nothing at times, but I’ve also had moments where I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to walk on water or march around the enemy’s walls until they came crashing down. So, what’s changed? Why am I now on the sidelines, rather than in the heat of battle? To be honest, it’s tough. The challenges of active faith can drain you, and there are times when it causes you to question everything. But I have to admit, there’s an undeniable rush that comes with being a Christian actively engaged in the work of His Kingdom.
What Must I Do?
Should I stay on the sidelines and reminisce about the days gone by, or should I get off the bench and get to work? One thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that I don’t jump up as quickly as I used to. But I still need to jump! I need to sharpen my tools, gather my gear, and remain an active Christian until my last heartbeat and final breath.
There are two powerful reasons for this:
For God’s glory
For the joy of it!
I know a man who’s 88 years old. He will stop you in the middle of a conversation to ask about your relationship with God. He doesn’t hesitate to interrupt a meaningless chat to share the Gospel. He visits the elderly in the hospital to offer encouragement, and he even gives away his last $20 when that's all he has. While he may get up slower than he used to, he still gets up—and he’s fully engaged!
Let’s Stop Wishful Thinking and Start Living Out Our Faith!
It’s time to get up, stop wishing, and start faithing. Let’s get serious about not just being Christians, but actively living as Christians. It will make a difference!