“God will not do by miracles what you can do by simple obedience”
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Simple obedience and miracles
Last night in our small group discussion, my Naija sis gave us this nugget of wisdom often repeated by her father. Man, that thing hit me like a brick falling off a 10-storey building. Even while I tried to settle to sleep the phrase kept ricocheting off my heart like an echo with nowhere else to go.
What have I been earnestly praying for that merely requires my obedience? What move have I been scared to take so I sit praying for my miracle to be delivered like an Amazon package? Meanwhile, God is waiting on my obedient action.
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2: 17 – 18
Faith in Action
James wrote his letter to the messianic Jews scattered outside of Jerusalem at the time. It seems he aimed to impart necessary wisdom and encourage the believers to live in a way true to Jesus’ teachings. In chapter 2, he points to the duplicity of speaking words that sound full of faith but are not backed by action. Faith, as a currency not backed by action, is like paper with dollar signs not backed by gold or a country’s support and sign-off. It’s worthless, monopoly money!.
Have I been trading in true faith or monopoly money? What goals spiritual, physical, emotional, and professional have I set without putting in the work to get there? What vision has God inspired that has remained in our heads and has not made it to paper much less to action?
Now listen to what I’m not saying. We don’t work to earn God’s favour or get in his good books. Instead, our faith-filled work is because we already have his favour and affection. We are already loved, saved and blessed. And as my kids would say point blank period!
An insecure child will earnestly work to prove that they are worthy and that’s not what we are talking about here. In contrast, a child secure in their parents’ love will do things to make them happy just because
Today I’m really challenged by this. Is my miracle waiting on my simple obedience? Selah
Write Fully Yours
Lady Kavan