From: The Handbook of Bible ApplicationACTIONS (Doing, Efforts, Work)How do actions and faith fit together?BIBLE READING: Genesis 15:1-6
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 , niv)
Actions mean little without underlying faith. Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was believing in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God (Romans 4:1-5 ). God credited righteousness to Abram because of his faith. We too can have a right relationship with God by trusting him with our life. Our outward actions—church attendance, prayer, good deeds—will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith—the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. Right actions follow naturally as by-products.
BIBLE READING: Luke 3:1-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. (Luke 3:8 , niv)
Faith naturally leads to action. Confession and a changed life are inseparable. Faith without works is lifeless (James 2:14-26 ). Jesus’ harshest words were to the respectable religious leaders who lacked the desire for real change. They wanted to be known as religious authorities, but they didn’t want to change their hearts and minds. Thus, their lives were unproductive. Repentance must be tied to action, or it isn’t real. Following Jesus means more than saying the words; it means acting on what he says.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:13-20
KEY BIBLE VERSE: For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20 , niv)
There must be genuine faith behind actions. The Pharisees were exacting and scrupulous in their attempts to follow their laws. So how could Jesus reasonably call us to a greater righteousness than theirs? The Pharisees’ weakness was that they were content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change their hearts (or attitudes). Jesus was saying, therefore, that the quality of our goodness should be greater than that of the Pharisees. They looked pious, but they were far from the kingdom of God. God judges our heart as well as our deeds, for the heart determines our real allegiance. Be just as concerned about your attitudes, which people don’t see, as your actions, which are seen by all.
BIBLE READING: Esther 4:1-17
KEY BIBLE VERSE: For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14 , niv)
God uses the actions of faithful people. After the decree to kill the Jews was given, Mordecai and Esther could have despaired, decided to save only themselves, or just waited for God’s intervention. Instead, they saw that God had placed them in their positions for a purpose, so they seized the moment and acted. When it is within our power to save others, we must do so. In a life-threatening situation, don’t withdraw, behave selfishly, wallow in despair, or wait for God to fix everything. Instead, ask God for his direction, and act! God may have placed you where you are “for such a time as this.”
BIBLE READING: James 1:19-27
KEY BIBLE VERSE: And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. (James 1:22 , tlb)
Believing God’s Word will lead to obeying God’s Word. It is important to know what God’s Word says, but it is much more important to obey it. We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes.
When is more required than prayer?BIBLE READING: Exodus 14:5-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Then the Lord said to Moses, “Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward, march!” (Exodus 14:15 , tlb)
Prayer should not be used to avoid action. The Lord told Moses to stop praying and get moving! Prayer must have a vital place in our life, but there is also a place for action. Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to postpone doing it. If we know what we should do, then it is time to get moving.
BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 7:1-17
KEY BIBLE VERSE: And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:3 , niv)
Obedience overcomes a sense of God’s absence. Sorrow gripped Israel for twenty years. The ark was put away like an unwanted box in an attic, and it seemed as if the Lord had abandoned his people. Samuel, now a grown man, roused the people to action by saying that if they were truly sorry, they should do something about it. How easy it is for us to complain about our problems, even to God, while we refuse to act, to change, and to do what he requires. We don’t even take the advice he has already given us. Do you ever feel as if God has abandoned you? Check to see if there is anything he has already told you to do. You may not be able to receive new guidance until you have acted on his previous directions.
