It is Not Enough to Just Change our Minds

I know that we have heard how we have to change our mind according to God’s Word in Romans 12:2. But let’s take that concept a step further. We also must change our actions. Our mental renewal is going to be nothing if we don’t have right actions behind it. The Word states James 2:20 that faith without works is dead. We exercise faith by doing, not just sitting around wishing, hoping, and believing. Faith has an action step, not just the inactive step of believing. When God says that “faith without works is dead" then we have to take a closer look at the word works. Works is the plural form of work which can be defined as a noun or a verb. As a noun work is defined as labor, occupation, and a measure of energy expended in moving an object. As a verb work is defined as “1. to do a specific task by using physical or mental powers, 2. to set into action, 3. to shape, form, or improve a material”. So let’s insert these definitions into the verse.

“Faith without (a measure of energy used in moving an object, situation, or unpleasant thing) is dead.”
“Faith without (completing a specific task by using physical or mental powers is dead)”
“Faith that (is not set into action) is dead.
“Faith that is not (shaped, formed, or used to improve a situation) is dead.

Why do we procrastinate?

The main reason I procrastinate is because I am faced with a situation that I don’t want to deal with. It may be something I view as a negative, overwhelming issue such as a test for a difficult class, a dire financial situation, or going to the doctor. Instead of just facing that situation in a timely fashion I put it off until I am “ready”. That is what I tell myself, when I am ready to deal with this issue I will deal with it, but right now I have other things to do. Sometimes it's a situation that's to dreadful to face so I tell myself that I need to be “mentally prepared”. However, those are just excuses for me procrastinating. And I notice that I only deal with the issue when I am forced to. It is not until that situation is “dealing” with me that I “deal” with it.

However, it is easy to just face your fear/situation/dreadful circumstance knowing that God is on your side. He is a facilitator and let's look at the definition of the word facilitator. Facilitator is defined as "someone who makes progress easier". So look at God as being the Ultimate facilitator making hard issues in your life easier to confront.

What exactly is patience?

The Bible speaks of having patience/longsuffering but often times we have a “Western” mindset when it comes to the definitions of those words. We think of something passive such as sitting and “waiting” on the Lord to move. However, since the Bible is a Hebrew book we must look up the Hebrew definition of longsuffering. The Hebrew word for longsuffering is rav sevel. The root word is sevel which means endurance or the ability to exert yourself for a long period of time. Endurance is also connect to the word permanence which means steady in purpose.

Let’s apply this to life. Maybe you just graduated from college and desire a job as a management consultant. However, you find the job market to be very competitive and your first few months of job searching have been sour. You gave 110% in your interviews but still were denied the job. What do you do? Do you give up and quit? Do you say ‘Well maybe God doesn’t want me to go into management, should I try marketing instead’? Or do you just keep plugging along until you get it. I strongly believe that you should continue at it until you get the management consulting position. Now you may need to use wisdom and start off as a consultant assistant but you don’t throw in the tower, or assume that God is “closing the door” just because of a few rejection letters. You endure by exerting yourself even if it is for a long period of time. You exercise permanence by being steady in purpose (stay focus on the goal of being a management consultant and seek a position that will cause you to grow in that area). Don’t get side-tracked.

Remember that James 2:20 “faith without works is dead”