Faith Without Works Is Dead

I was just cleaning out my email inbox and laughed when I came across a couple of confirmation emails in there from March 24th of last year. Confirmation emails of something I’d ordered online. I said to myself, “Why on earth have I not deleted these?!” But when I opened the emails, I realized what they were for. And I suddenly remembered why I hadn’t deleted them yet. I had left these emails in my inbox intentionally, to serve as reminders that faith without works, is dead.

You see, in March of last year, God had already begun preparing my heart to let me know we’d be leaving Florida. He had already begun whispering that a move was coming soon, and that He was getting ready to “reassign us”.

I still had no idea where we were going. I had no idea when we’d be leaving. Steve didn’t have a job lined up and neither did I. We didn’t have offers or prospects waiting for us. At this point, in March, we didn’t even know which direction to aim at. But nonetheless, I knew the move was coming. And as the days and weeks passed by, I got a growing sense that it was drawing closer and closer.

“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” Hebrews 11:1 AMP

But where, Lord? When? Why? What are we going to be doing? Who should we be reaching out to? Which schools or school districts should I be researching for our kids? Oh, I asked and asked. But there were no details provided to answer any of those questions. And so, I did the only thing I knew to do: I told God was that wherever it was and whenever it would be…He had my “YES”. Always. And secondly, I prepared. So that when the time came, I would be ready.

I started packing. I started getting rid of things we wouldn’t want to tote with us. I started organizing all our records. I spoke to those who were in positions of leadership over me. I shared with them what God had been saying and asked for their counsel and prayers as we continued to tune in. We even placed our house on the market! Again – this was all without knowing when or where we were even going!

Now, please understand. This process, from start to finish lasted a total of about ten months. We didn’t act hastily and neither am I advocating that we make any major life-changing decisions on even one or two pieces of revelation. By this point, in March, I had been given lots of dreams at night that indicated a move was coming. There were words that God continued to whisper to our hearts during prayer or times of worship. There were Scriptures He would specifically highlight that added to that confirmation. And as we began connecting all the dots, we knew that He was making it very clear that He was moving us.

But literally – up until two weeks prior to us packing up the Uhaul trucks and moving. We had no idea where we were going or when we’d be leaving. It was all still very much in the unseen. And in the moments when my curiosity and need to know was getting the best of me, (and trust me, there were many times it tried!) in those moments, I would stop and “do something” to add works to my faith. “Do something” to stir my faith, and to stand on what I knew God had already said.

Another one of those works of faith was buying a “going away” gift for one of my dearest friends. (That’s where the confirmation email comes in.) I knew I wouldn’t want to leave town and not give her something special. So, as an act of faith, I jumped online, and picked something out. It sat on my desk for 4 more months. And every time I walked by it I would remind myself that one day – soon, very, very soon, I would be wrapping that special gift, writing a card, and giving this gift to my friend.

So I would ask you,when it comes to the things God has already given you hints about. When it comes to the things you know lie in your future. When it comes to – not what God has yet to reveal…but what He has already revealed. What are you doing to prepare for it? What works are you adding to stir your faith and keep that promise alive? What steps are you taking to steward the promises He’s given you? Even if you’re still waiting for some details to fill in the blanks, do your actions now communicate that you believe what He has already said? Would you be ready if an opportunity suddenly intersected with where you are?

I thought it appropriate to share this especially during this Passover week. Because I’m reminded that when God gave the instructions for preparing the Passover meal, one of the specific things He instructed them to do was to eat the meal with a belt on their waste, their sandals on their feet, and their staff in their hand. In other words, the Passover meal was to be eaten in a way that showed the people were ready to move when God commanded them to leave.

When the promises of God intersect with His divine appointments, we need to be ready. That’s not only wisdom. That’s acting in faith. Looking back now, I can honestly say that if I had not taken those steps to prepare, I (we) would have not been ready when the time came. Seriously, friends. When we got the call with the job offer for Steve we knew was from God, we literally packed up and moved two and a half weeks later! But we were ready.

So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective]. James 2:17 AMP

What could you do right now as an act of faith to revive the promises on your life? What works or steps could you start taking now to prepare yourself and stir your faith up to believe they will come to pass? Action adds more fuel to our faith. Maybe you’re not waiting on God to make the next move…maybe He’s waiting on you.

It’s your move. So act…in faith.

Linda G. Riddle