We hear the word “faith” all the time. Someone will say, “He made a faith commitment”, or “My faith is really growing”, or “She’s a woman of faith”, etc. But sometimes I think we forget the basic meaning of the word. The Bible says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). According to the author of Hebrews, faith involves trusting in something unseen. Of course, this goes against human nature. We tend to trust in the things that are most obvious and evident to us, which is what makes faith in a God who cannot be seen (1 Peter 1:8) a big step for many. Still, millions of people have made “professions of faith.” They have prayed to God (believing that He is real), repented of their sins and asked Jesus to come into their lives.  Sadly, for many, this is the extent of their faith. They trusted Jesus for that moment with the expectation that upon dying they will be rewarded with heaven and kept from hell.

When you truly trust Jesus as your Savior, it’s an active faith. We are trusting Him with our lives every day – not just some day in the future when we die and enter eternity. The follower of Jesus is required (yes, it’s not optional) to live by faith on a daily basis. God will ask things of you that could never possibly be done in your own strength. But remember what the Bible says – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God is looking forw men and women whose confidience is not found in their own abilities, but in His great power. As you step out in faith and trust Jesus, he will come through and show His strength and power. As Paul reminded the Ephesian believers, God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Far too often, I think our vision of God is too small. We don’t readily believe that God is capable of doing great things in and through us. We don’t have an active faith that touches every aspect of our lives. If this is true for you, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. We can say, God “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). We can say, Jesus, give me faith for today and faith for tomorrow. We can say, I can’t overcome this particular sin in my life _________ , but by the power of your Spirit O God, I believe you will give me the victory. We can say, God, I don’t have the courage to share my Christian faith with my friend, but I believe you can help me overcome that fear. And the list goes on and on, but it all starts with believing God.

Friend, don’t settle for having a “profession of faith” that leaves you content to wear the “Christian label” but unwilling to truly “live” by faith. That is nothing more than dead Christianity at its finest. The genuine believer WILL have an active faith. Paul said “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). God doesn’t change the world through men and women who are unwilling to trust Him. No, he uses men and women who have great faith and confidence in Him. He uses men and women who, to quote from Galatians 2:20 again, Christ lives in and through. Are you willing to be that man or woman?