As we grow and increase in our faith, we might experience a desire or a call to do something. Often in the Bible; people were called to travel and settle in faraway lands, send messages from God to rebellious cities, and step out in their faith. In our own lives; we might feel called to support a certain mission, serve in the church, or share the gospel. Whenever we decide to commit to doing something, it’s important to ask ourselves why we do it.
Faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:26b
Faith and works are connected. Faith without action is dead, but action without faith is just something we do. The “why” is just as, if not more, important as the action. The goal is not to be busy doing many things that look good for God, but to exercise faith in what He has called you to do.
Success in the wrong area is failure. Are you doing it in faith? If you are not trusting or relying on God, then what or who are you relying on? No matter what the Lord calls us to do or what we think we should be doing, faith has to come first.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham’s action was to go out from his country, away from his family, to settle in a foreign land. But he did it in faith. He believed and then he obeyed. Faith has to come first.
What are we increasing in? Are we increasing in faith?