Do you believe the things you read in the Holy Bible? If so, do you believe the things Jesus said in the Bible? If you answered, "Yes," to both these questions, then you're more than likely a Christian. That's because, the Bible says those who don't come to God through Jesus' atonement for their sin, will suffer for their failure for eternity. Only a fool would believe that and not take action. But I'd say that far too many Christians act like a lost person when they hear God's word, because they fail to show they believe it by acting on it.

Jesus had only performed one miracle when a father from Capernaum came to Galilee and asked the Master to come heal his son who was close to death. He no doubt believed what Jesus was preaching, but more importantly, he believed there was no one else able to help him. He sought a word from Jesus and placed his son's life in that word.

It might have been desperation that motivated that father, we just don't know. But when Jesus said it was done, the man thanked him and went home expecting his request to have been honored. And it was. His servants came to meet him on the way home and told him his dying son had taken a turn for the better and was alive and doing well. It would have been enough to simply know he was alive, but upon further questioning by the father, it was learned the son was healed the moment he heard Jesus (belief) and turned to receive his blessing (action).

Are you trusting Jesus' word to the point, you believe it and turn to receive your blessing? You may not realize this, but even religion can turn to sin when we fail to believe God and honor his word. King Jeroboam got a word from his ungodly counselors and proceeded to build two golden calves as altars for the people to worship false Gods. He got a word from the wrong source and then proceeded to do the wrong thing. Scripture says his action turned to sin and displeased God. (1Ki 12:28-30)

The father from Capernaum got the right word and king Jeroboam got the wrong word. Both believed and acted on what they heard, but one action turned to sin and the other turned to blessing. If we want to save ourselves a lot of grief, we'd best learn the difference, don't you think?

1. Pray Through the Word - 365 devotionals on the subject of prayer by James R. Green (1Ki 12; John 4)
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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