Right now I'm reading through the book of Luke and learning a lot about faith; not just having faith, but also putting that faith into action. Its not enough to just trust Jesus with our lives, we have to believe that he has the power to change our lives by filling us with his Spirit to bear his image. That means not always trying to pursue a "Christian lifestyle" but pursuing Christ. If we're only trying to figure out how we should serve him according to our lifestyle we're only serving ourselves and not glorifying God.
In Luke 5 Jesus was teaching among Pharisees and teachers of the law from all over Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. Some men were carrying a paralytic on a mat and all they wanted was to get near Jesus so he would heal him. They could not find a way to get to Jesus so they went up on the roof and lowered the paralytic down to him right in the middle of Jesus' teaching. They didn't give up when they couldn't find a way because they knew that Jesus would heal him and all they had to do was get close enough to him. They had faith and they put their faith into action.
Luke 5:20 says, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
Jesus healed him spiritually because of his faith. Then when the Pharisees saw that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins they were skeptical. Then Jesus healed the man physically, and they were filled with awe.
Luke 5:26 says, "Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God."
What a great story about how we can put our faith into action can glorify God. When we take the initiative to step out, to trust him, and be determined to pursue his righteousness, we can exhibit his holiness and others will come to place their faith in the one true God!
Later on in Luke Jesus asks this question, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' but do not do what I say?"
Wow. We can praise God and trust him in our hearts, but how will others know the name of Jesus if we don't do what he says?
We are called to show the love of Jesus, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
We are his special possession and he has called us out of darkness for a reason. He can use you no matter where you are in your Christian walk, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."- Luke 5:32
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