The ‘Risk’ of Obedience
“[Abraham] was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did – by his actions.” (James 2:22 NLT)
To many Christians, “faith” means sincerely believing something is true when you don’t have any evidence. In fact, faith is acting on what you know full well is true: God is able to keep his promise and can be trusted to do it. Faith that is only theoretical conviction isn’t faith yet. Real faith – living faith, saving faith – does something about it.
God had promised Abraham that Isaac would be the father of an entire nation. When the Lord commanded him to sacrifice his only son, faith wasn’t some abstract issue of believing without evidence. Faith meant taking the risk of obedience – frightening as it was – because Abraham knew God could keep the promise even if Isaac died. Raising a son from the dead is right down God’s alley!
The life of faith is a life of taking risks that aren’t actually risky. When God puts a challenge before you – even one that seems crazy to your human nature – you can step out in confidence because you know God is able and faithful. When your faith and actions are working together, then your faith will be made complete.
Prayer: “Lord, what you want from us is exciting – and a little frightening too. It would be a lot easier to just stay with our ‘business as usual’ lives, but you have something seriously amazing in store for us if we will match our beliefs with obedience. Please strengthen our confidence in your power and trustworthiness, and grant us the courage to step out in faith when you give us opportunities to prove how much we really trust you.”
Point to ponder: The life of faith is a life of taking risks that aren’t actually risky.
By Mark Kelly
In the issue of health and healing, this place of obedience seems to be neglected by many believers. Some people seem more willing to believe the world’s prognosis than God’s. Our God is bigger than any illness. He says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified Bible)
“If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” The “land” can also mean our bodies as The Word is a Seed to be planted in our hearts and grow through our bodies and minds into victorious, resurrection life. We must be obedient to forgive others, including ourselves, confess our sins, repent and be thankful through worship. Having been healed of Epstein-Barr virus, an “incurable” illness (lab tests prove it!), Hepatitis C (no medicine taken which was chemo), a fast growing breast lump (no surgery or chemo or radiation), hate rage, lust, panic, not enough money, jealousy, to name a few, I stand on the Word of God, Jesus Christ, in fulfilled promises. Where God is, there is no lack, disease or death! Praise to the Lord Jesus Christ! Some people need some medicine, indeed, but the Anointed One has the last word.
As an alternative, consider the risk of disobedience. We allow our society to look more imposing, more intimidating, more powerful than the Lord God Almighty. Attention to things of this world via media and other constant influences can distract from the miracles, those things we may judge as good or bad, coming from God’s own Hand. In one selfish sense, why would we want to separate ourselves from the sovereign Master of the Universe, for whom nothing is impossible, and subject ourselves to the negative consequences of our actions? In another, deeper sense, why would we want to choose anything over the love and enduring care of our God and disappoint Him Who has proven that He loves us more than life itself?