Faith is a Verb

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22

Though faith was a doctrine that Christ taught to His disciples, He frequently grieved over their lack of it. Think of the imagery contained in the many cures which Christ preformed for the benefit of the afflicted. They almost always corresponded with their faith.

The woman with the issue of blood, pressed through the crowd to get to Jesus, saying, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." She persevered and came crawling amidst the crowd behind Him. And touched, not Him, but His hem. Tremulous faith indeed! Yet she instantly felt His healing virtue. She was cured, and the Lord blessed her with, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

Blind Bartimaeus begged the Savior to have mercy on him. Jesus said in reply, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? Lord, that I might receive my sight." The gracious reply came, "Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."  

The leper had a true faith in the power of Christ when he worshiped Him and said, "Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean." Jesus, recognizing His gift in the man, put forth His hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be thou clean."

It is from a knowledge of what a true faith is, that Paul says, "The just shall live by faith". Faith lives, loves, hopes, moves. Faith is a verb.

May it be deeply impressed upon your soul dear one, that true faith is that which is alive and active. Faith is a verb. It flees.

And if it can’t flee, it sprints.

And if it can’t sprint, it walks.

And if it can’t walk it crawls.

And if it can’t crawl, it cries.

And if it can’t cry, it sighs.

But we do not flee to a doctrine, or a creed, but a Person. A living faith is more than a clear perception of the truth. It’s personal appropriation of that Truth. A full-bodied rest and settled confidence in Christ’s Person and work. Like these examples, it is a full dependence on Christ for the salvation of your soul.