Romans 1.16-17 records, it’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts Him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: The person in right standing before God by trusting Him really lives. MSG
Are we right with God? If so, then acts of faith show up through our lives. What are acts of faith?
First, giving generously is an act of faith. Since we trust God to supply all of our needs we can give generously to the needs of others. We no longer identify ourselves by the possessions of the world but by being possessed by God Who uses our time, talent and treasure to build His kingdom upon earth as it is in heaven.
Second, we share the message of Christ’s life, death and resurrection, boldly, by faith, knowing that faith comes through hearing and hearing from the Word of God. We share Christ’s good news by faith because the gospel is the power of salvation for everyone who believes. We share Christ consistently by faith for we know God desires none to perish but for all men to come to eternal life. We share Christ by faith because we are not ashamed of Him before men lest He return and be ashamed of us before God the Father Almighty.
Further, we demonstrate our faith when we serve those who are ‘less’ than ourselves. When we serve the weak, the poor, the foolish. When we help those in particular whom men despise, we serve Christ who was weak, poor and despised by men. We serve those whom men reject for we know God chooses the weak to shame the strong, the foolish to shame the wise, and the poor to shame the rich.
Our goal is God’s approval not man’s approval, so we act in faith seeking God’s glory and honor on earth as it is in heaven though men despise Him and us His servants.
Acts of faith cause men to look down upon us even as they looked down upon our Savior. God exalts the man who humbles himself before Him to serve Him and to love Him before men so that men might likewise serve and love Him. These are the acts of faith both men and God should see from us who claim to be right with God for they are the very things Jesus did Who was and is always right before God.
