Today’s Post Written By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
One afternoon my sister and brother-in-law taught my husband and me a new card game called “Pitch”. It involves quite a bit of strategy and is challenging because of the many unknowns. Ever changing variables keep the players guessing throughout the entire game. Our hosts explained all the rules and point value system, but it wasn’t until we actually played through a hand or two that we understood the game to its fullest.
Experience is a great teacher. With each new hand, I learned strategies and approaches that weren’t fully understood through verbal instructions alone. One particular hand, I took a big risk and lost the game for me and my partner. I felt bad for making the error, but I also realized that some lessons are best learned through trial and error.
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)
Faith is like a card game. We can read about faith and watch others live faith-filled lives, but eventually you and I must put our faith into action. As we experience the ups and downs of being a follower of Jesus, and as we step out and take risks in life, we learn comprehensive lessons that help us to more fully appreciate what Christianity is all about.
The most amazing experiences in life take place when we step out and put our faith into action. The minor defeats aren’t much fun, but they are great teachers that will better equip us for future leaps of faith.
“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” (James 2:22)
When it comes to true faith, we need play it out.
“According to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matthew 9:29)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)