True Faith Requires Action

Memory verse: Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)

James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” When you face a crisis of belief, what you do demonstrates what you believe. Faith without action is dead! Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the roll call of faith. Let’s take a look at the actions of these individuals who demonstrated their faith…

  • Abel (v. 4) – Offered a righteous sacrifice to God

  • Enoch (v. 5-6) – Pleased God by earnestly seeking Him

  • Noah (v. 7) – Built an ark to save his family

  • Abraham (v. 8-19) – Made his home in a foreign country, followed God without knowing where, considered God faithful to keep His promise, & offered Isaac as sacrifice

  • Moses (v. 24-28) – Chose to be mistreated along with God’s people, left Egypt, & kept the Passover

  • Israelites (v. 29-30) – Marched around the walls of Jericho and passed through the Red Sea on dry ground

  • Rahab (v. 31) – Welcomed and hid the Israelite spies

Genuine faith is demonstrated by action. Looking at those in Hebrews 11, you may notice that a faithful life does not always bring the same results in human terms. Verses 33-35a describe the victory and deliverance some people of faith experienced. Verses 35b-38 describe the torture, mockery, and death other people of faith endured. Were some more faithful than others? No. “These were all commended for their faith” (Hebrews 11:39). They decided a “Well done!” from their Master was more important than life itself. Verse 40 explains God has planned something far better for people of faith than the world has to offer. Therefore, “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Outward appearances of success do not always indicate faith, and outward appearances of failure do not always reflect a lack of faith. A faithful servant is one who does what his Master tells him, whatever the outcome may be. Consider Jesus: He endured the cross, but now He is seated next to the throne of God! What a reward for faithful­ ness! Don’t grow weary in being faithful. A reward awaits faithful servants.