James 2:21-14
Wasn't our ancestor Abraham "made right with God by works" when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn't it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are "works of faith"? The full meaning of "believe" in the Scripture sentence, "Abraham believed God and was set right with God," includes his action. It's that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named "God's friend." Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Labor Day 2011, Timothy awoke wheezing. He could hardly catch his breath. The noise was so loud that my husband rushed from his upstairs office and said, “He’s having an asthma attack.” Thankfully, Timothy did not have asthma – just a serious allergic reaction to leaves and grass he had played in the day before. But it took a trip to our local hospital Emergency Room to determine this. And the entire event scared our little guy half to death… particularly some of the devices used to examine him, like a blood pressure cuff and a nebulizer mask applied for a “breathing treatment.”
The doctor ordered a chest x-ray, and the technician came to our exam room to get us. Timothy was terrified and did not want to cooperate. He most certainly did not want to let go of me. In frustration, the technician finally ordered us to leave the x-ray lab. We did NOT want to do this, but nurses and the respiratory therapist assured me that they would not leave Timothy… and that he would be in good hands. So my husband and I reluctantly stepped out of the room and left our little guy sitting on the x-ray table, screaming at the top of his lungs. I told my husband, “They have five minutes.” Some three minutes and one decent x-ray later, we were allowed to return.
I don’t begin to compare this experience to that of Abraham placing Isaac on the altar and preparing to kill him in sacrifice. But I have a glimpse of how hard it is to entrust your child to others who are assuring you that “this is the right thing to do,” and “it will be okay,” when your gut is telling you something completely different. I have a little clearer picture of operating in faith. I knew that we needed the x-ray. I knew some of these nurses and trusted them to take care of Timothy. The doctor had explained that he had to rule out pneumonia… and this was the least invasive procedure they offered. But I still hear the screams and terror in my nephew’s voice. Nobody ever said being a “parent” was easy… and certainly no one ever said walking in faith with Jesus would be simple, either.
My point is that we often realize that what God is calling us to do is going to be difficult… or at best, something we really don’t want to do. Other times, we are simply a little lazy. God is requiring effort on our part that we do not want to provide. Regardless of the reason, there will be times when walking in faith is incredibly hard… but extremely vital. As the scripture states, that “mesh of believing and acting” is what brings the results we so desperately seek… the relationship with God that creates the genuine “friendship.”
As Christians, there will be many times in our lives when God calls upon us to demonstrate incredible faith in Him and the promises He has given us. The word “demonstrate” is not passive… it is a call to action! This may mean actively getting up and getting busy – or it may simply mean behaving in a manner that exudes a positive, hopeful attitude. Whatever and wherever God calls us, we must be ready to do what is required… even if it means temporarily leaving our child in the care of trained medical staff members who are trying to help. Are you up for the challenges of living in Christian faith? Where do you need to make necessary adjustments – in your actions and your attitude? Are you ready to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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