by Michael E Brooks

“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak.” (2 Cor 3:13)

The difference between mere belief and true saving faith may be summed up in one word – “therefore”. Genuine faith results in consequences. It causes us to act. It establishes parameters to our lives. Because of our faith we do certain things. Because of our faith we refuse to do other things. An incident in Kathmandu, Nepal a few years ago illustrates this point well.

Ramesh is a young Hindu man who worked part time for an American dentist who lives in Kathmandu. His older sister, Sunita, who had become a Christian, also worked with the family as a fulltime cook and housekeeper. One day Ramesh finished his duties about noon and, being hungry, fixed a piece of meat he found in the refrigerator for his lunch. He then took it out to where Sunita was working and sat to eat it.

After taking a bite Ramesh exclaimed, “Sister, this is good. What is it – buffalo?” She answered, “No, it is beef.” (To Hindus the cow is a sacred animal, whereas the domesticated water buffalo is not). Hearing this, Ramesh widened his eyes in shock and said, “Someone killed a goddess?!!” Extending his fork with a piece of beef impaled on it to arm’s length he mournfully said, “Oh poor goddess, I am so sorry someone killed you!” He then fell silent, and after a moment slowly lowered the fork to his mouth and took the bite and ate it, continuing on to finish the piece of beef. After another pause, he turned to Sunita and said, “If Dr. Jerry has someone kill another goddess, would you please save me a piece?”

I am sure that Ramesh still believes that the cow is sacred, a divine animal. Yet that belief will never again restrain him from eating beef if he has the opportunity. He has the belief, but not the conviction that leads to a “therefore.”

James calls this kind of intellectual acceptance of a concept “demon faith.” “You believe that there is one God? You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble” (Jas 2:19). Genuine faith must be much more that that. It must lead us to obedience. Jesus taught, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter they kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven” (Mt 7:21). True faith is obedient trust in God. Nothing else is sufficient.

by Tim Hall

One of the great truths about God that leads us to love Him is that He is a deliverer. When we are caught in the trials of life, we need only look to Him and He will deliver us. That hope burns within the hearts of many.

But is it really true? Will God always deliver us from our trials?

God is certainly capable of delivering His people from any trial they face. Many occasions of God's amazing power are recorded in the Bible: Bringing the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage; rescuing Daniel from the lions' den; raising Lazarus from the dead. The list is long. God has often delivered His people in dramatic fashion. The song we sing is true: "He is able to deliver thee!"

However, the Bible does not assure us that God will always be willing to deliver us from the problems we face. And, no, it doesn't necessarily mean that we are guilty of some sin, that God is pressuring us to repent. Some of the most godly people in the Bible have had to endure suffering for long periods of time.

Think of the woman in Mark 5:25-34: She had a serious hemorrhage of blood for twelve years. Yes, Jesus healed her, but where had God been during those twelve years of suffering? Or think of the three young Jewish men in Daniel 3. Could God not have prevented them from being cast into the furnace? Their lives were miraculously spared, but imagine the terror the endured while in that inferno. Where was God? Why didn't He intervene? Paul is another case in point. Such a devoted servant, he was willing to endure incredible hardships in order to preach Christ to the lost. Then why didn't the Lord remove his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)? Didn't God care?

The truth is that God was able to deliver each one of these, but in His wisdom and grace, He allowed a period of suffering. He saw a greater good to be served than merely relieving temporary pain. In the end, each of these people was stronger in their faith, and that condition served them well as they faced eternity. (Read James 1:2-4)

God is with us! He is always with us, even when it appears that He won't deliver us. Let our faith remain always strong in His good purposes, for His will toward us is not concerned only with our lives on earth -- but especially with where we will spend eternity.