Soldier's Orders: Evidential Work

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 

James 2:19-20 (NKJV)

The Son of God and Author of our faith… didn't limit Himself to wondrous Words. He also performed evidential works.

The Great High Priest Who taught us how to pray… didn’t JUST pray for His Father to act. He committed Himself to bold actions.

The Temple Designer refused to stop… with an awesomely beautiful building. He designed US to be LIVING temples.

The Lawgiver's Son didn't focus on… religious, law-abiding brethren. He spent His time with obvious sinners.

He showed His faith by evidential works.

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: Consider two things:

  1. Talking the talk of a well-churched Christian is “junk” without walking the walk of Christ. Because if you call yourself a Christian without acting like Christ (as best you can), you harm His witness among outsiders. Better to be an honest atheist than a self-righteous, self-ordained Christian. Jesus called them “religious hypocrites.” *

  2. Your Captain worked with two kinds of people: A) Those who believed by His Life and His Words; B) Those who believed by THEIR eyes and HIS works. Like the Apostle Thomas, who refused the eyewitness accounts of his brethren. He wanted to see Christ’s wounds for himself:

'Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed' ' (John 20:29). Even so, Jesus agreed to his need… and a productive life awaited him.

Like Jesus, be willing to put YOUR works to the test for the doubters in your life: straightforward people who seek physical evidence of God’s spiritual truth. If Jesus agreed to Thomas's need, be willing to do what your Teacher did.

Consider some works that witness your faith…
To curious skeptics, seeking the truth, and to curious Christians, “stuck” in church:

  • Abandoning religiosity… to carry your King’s Light in media.

  • Putting aside your plans and busyness… to see and assist a person in need.

  • Refusing to judge, complain, or gossip… when Christians you know do the opposite.

  • Forgiving an offender who harmed you… instead of nursing ill will or vengeance.

  • Going the extra mile when others don’t… and giving yourselves when others just take.

  • Speaking big by unusual actions… instead of speaking big by puffed-up words.

  • Correcting (gently) your erring brethren… and asking them to do the same for you.

Soldier's Orders: Evidential Work (Part 33)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

* Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+23&version=NKJV

Carey Arban