- Today Scripture & Insight: James 2:17-18
It is one thing to talk about putting our faith into action and it is another to actually follow through and do it. When Moses was born, the Pharaoh had given an order to the Hebrew mid-wives to kill any baby boys that were born. They feared God and disobeyed this order. When Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, but they could hide him no longer.
3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She (Moses’ mother) put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. [1] Exodus 2:3-4.
Wow! What amazing faith. They placed the baby in a basket and doing so placed him into the hands of God. They put their faith into action in a very difficult time. As the story unfolds, Moses was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter, but his parents did not know that would happen. The word for basket and the word for the ark that rescued Noah is the same word in the Hebrew language. Both were used to rescue.
How about you? Where is the Holy Spirit prompting you to put your faith into action?
Believing is ‘acting in faith.’ This is what we see in our story when Moses’ mother placed him in the basket. James tells us that faith without corresponding actions is lifeless and dead. James 2:17-18 –In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” [2]
If you struggle and don’t feel you have the strength to put your faith into action, pray and ask the Lord to help you. It is not unusual to struggle. The Lord wants us to depend on Him. Also, remember what the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.[3]
Go forward in God’s strength!
To hear more of the story of Moses, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-footsteps-of-moses/trusting-god-in-difficult-times
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ex 2:3–4). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Jas 2:17–18). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[3] The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 4:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.