Living Faith Obeys

". . . obedience to the faith among all nations for His name."

Romans 1:5

The Bible teaches that faith and obedience are joined together. They are like two sides of the same coin. To have a living faith, there must be corresponding obedience. Faith without obedience says, "I can use many Bible words as I talk, but I am powerless to change lives or situations." Faith with obedience says, "God's power is released to make changes in lives and situations, because I obey the word of God." The Bible says, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only" (James 1:22). Living faith obeys God.

The Bible speaks of two types of faith. One simply talks and does nothing. It's referred to as dead faith. Living faith is quite the contrary. It hears and obeys God's word. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26).

Two men were talking about the game of football. One asked the other, "So, where did you play football?" He replied, "Oh, I never have. I just like to talk about it." So it is with dead faith. It can talk about God and the Bible, but it never does anything. Living faith obeys God.

Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding feast (John 2). He turned the water into wine. Before the miracle took place, he told the men to fill the pots with water. They obeyed. He told them to take the pots to the governor of the feast. Again, they obeyed. At some point on their way, the water turned to wine. The same Lord wants to work in our lives. However, we must trust and obey. If you need the Lord to work in your life, ask Him what you must do. The Bible gives us clear directions. Our faith is released as we obey His commands. The Lord works through living faith.

Father, as we read the Bible, show us what You would have us to do, as we trust and obey, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.