Wouldn’t it be great if there were Bible verses that sounded like, Think about prayer, or Think about giving. I mean, with a Bible like that I could be almost perfect! Now, however, I could probably author a book entitled, The Book of Good Intentions. The frightening thing is, I wonder how many people can be lulled into a state of false peace just because they forever intend to do something.

I’m not necessarily knocking those good intentions or ideas you get, but I am challenging you to take them one step further and put legs on them. After all, isn’t that what being followers of Jesus is all about, being imitators of God? If we would only learn that doing what the Lord says is discipleship. In fact, it’s half of the Great Commission. This revelation has come to me very clearly these past few weeks, but in a way that I never would have expected. God used a dictionary! If that seems too far-fetched to some of you, or not spiritual enough, consider talking to a donkey or praying out of the belly of a great fish.

Anyway, I discovered in my dictionary that the word faith is a noun; it defines what I believe. However, the word believe is a verb. Get the catch? Believing takes action. Faith can define prayer whereas believing prays. Faith can define giving whereas believing gives. John states this so beautifully: He who believes on Him is not condemned; but he who believes not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

True faith is active. That’s what Paul and James so beautifully tell us in their inspired writings. Paul was arguing for the priority of faith whereas James was arguing for the proof of faith. No man will ever be moved to action without faith, and no man’s faith is genuine unless it moves him to action. Praise God!

We are saved judicially by God, meritoriously by Christ, mediately by faith, and evidentially by works. Just think about it: The people who know their God shall be strong and do great exploits. They will not be mere sermon sippers.