Faith and Action

​Hurricane Katrina brought devastation to the Mississippi coastline where I lived with my family in August 2005. Many lost their lives; twelve bodies washed up just two blocks from our home. We were without power and water for a few weeks. Military helicopters dropped MRE’s in our neighborhood and attempts at preparing warm meals were cooked over sterno.
 
After a few weeks, my family had power and water again. We were truly thankful, but aware that many were still without power, water, shelter, and hope. It was important to share my faith in some tangible way to these hurting people. I asked God what I could do. His answer was clear, “Bake chocolate chip cookies.” So I did.

​The message, with smiley faces I taped to each bag of chocolate chip cookies, was simple. It stated that the little bag of cookies was a reminder that Jesus loves them along with this verse, “...the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). I included our names and phone number for prayer. My husband and teenage son passed out dozens of bags to people standing in the lines for assistance all over our city. 
 
A few weeks later this message was on our home answering machine, “I found a bag with your phone number on the floor of a hotel here in New Orleans. I checked into this hotel to commit suicide. I had forgotten that Jesus loved me until I read the message on your bag. I am going to find Jesus again and go on with life, but I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t found your message. I just want to thank you.”
 
In James chapter 2, the connection between faith and actions is clear. James mentioned that both Abraham and Rahab were considered righteous by God because of their faith and actions. Abraham’s faith and actions worked together when he willingly brought his son Isaac to the altar, “His actions made his faith complete” (Jas. 2:22).  Rahab’s faith and actions worked together when she hid the Israelite spies in Jericho (Jas. 2:25). The results of the faith and actions of Abraham and Rahab were amazing, too. Not only did Abraham become the father of the entire Jewish people, but he was also considered a friend of God. Not only was Rahab and her entire household saved when the walls of Jericho fell, but she was mentioned in the lineage of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:5. 
 
Faith and action work together as James explains,“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (Jas. 2:24). True faith ignites a passion for action. Those actions are the fruit of our faith. I consider my act of faith small when compared to the size of the need by the hurricane victims, but it was done for God’s glory. God is the one who orchestrated the amazing result. Honestly, we may never see the results of acting on our faith that does not mean the results were any less amazing.
 
Let your faith ignite your passion for action. Acting on my faith had an amazing result. Do what God drops into your heart to do. It could be as big as starting a business or moving to another country as a missionary. It could be unimpressively ordinary like stopping to talk to someone who crosses your path. It could be helpful like babysitting or planting flowers. It could be baking chocolate chip cookies. No action that is done for God’s glory is too small. After all, faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains!

Memory Verse: ​“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

About the Author

Hi, I'm Debbie Burns! I am wife to a very non-boring husband, mom to 3 grown sons who make my mommy-heart proud, Mother-in-law to 2 sweet daughter-in-loves, and Mimi to 3 adorable grand blessings. I have taught since I was 6-years-old, but professionally I've taught for just over 40 years. Not only do I love to teach, but I love to learn. God teaches me through His Word, nature, and the people around me every day. My life goal is to leave a legacy of faith.