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Actions
By Joyce McCartney-BGCO Women's Retreat Planning Team Member
“I want to really live!” A lot of times we hear people say this or something similar. We understand that when they say this, they are meaning more than just breathing and heart beating. What they are saying is that they want to experience life to the fullest. They don’t want to just sit around talking about it. They want to get out there and do! Did you know that as children of God, this is the kind of life that we were created for? Jesus told his disciples in John 10:10b, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. When we are Resolved to live our legacy in Christ, then we need to be resolved to live life to the fullest. Life in Christ should be an experience, not a spectator sport.
Living our legacy in Christ involves faith. So, I guess now the question is “What is faith?” Hebrews 11:1 tells us, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Faith is not a wishy-washy, “I hope this happens, but I don’t really know.” No, it is being sure, because it is based on God. Our faith is in our all-powerful God. And nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Faith is more than just believing something with our head. It is believing and trusting in God for the results.
The apostle Paul talked a lot about how our salvation is through faith and not through our works. But Paul also said that we are created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). I think James probably put it best when he said, In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17) If there are no actions, then we need to do a reality check to make sure that our faith is real. Faith is not really faith, until it is put into action. As we look through Hebrews 11 and the roll-call of the faithful, we see faith described by what each person did. By faith, Abel offered God a sacrifice (vs. 4). By faith, Noah built the ark (vs. 7). By faith, Abraham obeyed and went (vs. 8). By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months (vs. 23). In each example their faith is accompanied by action.
Living our legacy in Christ is living our faith to the fullest. It is more than just going through the motions. It is more than just going to church when we feel like it and praying when we are in a tight spot. The prophet Isaiah gave the Israelites a word from God that still applies to us today. Isaiah 29:13, The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. These Israelites were just going through the motions. They honored God in word, but they weren’t living it in their lives. We also need to be careful. Living our legacy in Christ is a day-in and day-out walking with God through faith. It involves putting feet to our faith, and that is what it means to really live.
My prayer for us today is from Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
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Save the Date- 2018 BGCO Women's Retreat
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