True faith works. That is, an authentic trust in God and reliance on God and allegiance to God produces, it bears fruit, it expresses itself through love (Gal.5:6).
And a survey of the Scriptures shows that true faith in God produces:
-- a love for God in his response to his cross-centered love for us
-- God-focused worship
-- a pursuit of holiness and commitment to obedience
-- a deeply rooted (even if imperfect) contentment, thankfulness and even joy in the midst of all kinds of circumstances
-- perseverance and patience in the midst of trials
-- enterprising involvement in witness and service, carrying out the mission God has for us
-- a foundational sense of significance and security, with a Godward identity
-- prayerfulness
-- hope in relation to the promised future happiness in the new heaven and new earth
If these fruits or effects of faith are absent or weak in my life, it must mean that my trust in God and confidence in God is missing or weak. What can be done?....
"...faith comes from hearing...the word of Christ..." (Rom.10:17). In other words faith begins and grows in response to heartfelt acceptance of the message from and about Christ.
So, does your faith 'work'? Has it, today -- this week -- been expressing itself in love, obedience, contentment, service, perseverance, purposefulness?....
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