Our Own Initiative
In order for our faith to go beyond believing certain facts, it must be translated into action and the development of our character. The Holy Scriptures show us that our following of the gospel without works is not faith. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17 ESV)
We cannot save or sanctify ourselves. God does and we must take our initiative in doing what He does not force. It means that we must develop good habits and make our own character something that is according to what He asks us. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV)
All acts that lead us to a better character requires hard work and does not occur automatically we are only saved by the grace of the Lord. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” (James 5:13 ESV)
A good character is the only way others will believe what we speak of and bear witness. The trust of others in us is very important in sharing the Gospel because we cannot evangelize to the truth if we don’t live it.
Nowadays the social networks are used a lot in biased ways, either by lying or by saying half-truths, omitting the most important things. We cannot trust people who have the habit of lying because as Christians we cannot separate our position in the world with the spirit that dwells within us-since Jesus Christ is Lord of both body and spirit.
The prayer of faith for a sick person, for example, does not refer to the faith of the sick person but to our faith. God heals, faith does not; All the prayers are subject to His will.
So our initiatives are part of the healing process of God. The Lord expects us to do what pleases Him. Let us do this by making it a constant and irrevocable practice. Remember that for all our afflictions there will be a reward.
Our faith allows us to understand what God tells us and we cannot hesitate about that. If we hesitate we become careless, spurning the grace in which we stand. Make a decision of our will now and make it impossible to go back. The initiative needs to be ours.
May God bless us.
