APRIL 25TH 2017 ONLINE EDITION OF RHAPSODY OF REALITIES CHRISTIAN DAILY DEVOTIONALS GUIDE WITH PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

TOPIC
Use your faith

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).
Acts 14 tells us that Paul was preaching in a city called Lystra, and he noticed a certain man who was crippled from his mother’s womb: “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked” (Acts 14:8-10).
When the man heard the Gospel from Paul, it imparted faith to him, but faith alone didn’t do him good. He was still crippled, even though he had faith. His faith was so palpable that Paul noticed it; he perceived that the man had faith to be healed.
It’s the same predicament that many are in today in the body of Christ; they have faith, yet they’re snowed-under by the adversities of life, living as victims. Their problem is that they’re not using their faith. Faith is like currency; you have to use it. It’s like money in your account, wallet or in your pocket; it won’t do anything for you just because you have it; you must put it to use.
The Bible says, “...Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). That means faith without corresponding actions; faith that’s not used, is dead. Imagine if the crippled man had argued and hesitated when Paul told him to stand up; he would have neutralized his own faith. But the moment he acted on the Word, his faith was activated and a miracle ensued.
The issue oftentimes isn’t that God’s people don’t have faith; every Christian has faith. The problem is that many aren’t using their faith. Faith must be active and not passive. Use your faith today.

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for imparting faith to my spirit through the Word. I use my faith today by my corresponding actions and verbal expressions, in line with your infallible and eternal Word. Thus, I live above the adversary and all adversities of life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study: Romans 4:17-21; Hebrews 11:3

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 21:5-38 1 Samuel 23-25

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 5:14-20 Leviticus 25