Part 2: Faith Must Be Lived Out Every Day
Faith is not meant to be something we only talk about. It is meant to be something we live. That is why obedience matters. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience is not about pretending to be perfect or acting better than other people. It is about loving God enough to listen to Him and follow His ways.
When we obey God, we are saying, “Lord, I trust You more than I trust my own feelings, plans, or opinions.” And God does not leave us to do this alone. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His people. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, Teacher, and Guide. He strengthens us when we are weak, corrects us when we are wrong, and helps us become more like Jesus.
The Bible also reminds us that faith without action is dead (James 2:17). In simple words, if we say we have faith but our lives never change, something is missing. Real faith should show up in our love, forgiveness, humility, patience, kindness, and willingness to do what is right.
Being a Christian means letting God shape our character. It means choosing honesty when lying would be easier. It means forgiving when we would rather hold a grudge. It means praying instead of worrying, trusting instead of giving up, and obeying God even when the world tells us to do something different. As 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Second Corinthians 4:7 says that believers have “this treasure in jars of clay.” The treasure is the good news of Jesus Christ, and the jars of clay are us. Clay jars are fragile and easy to break, just like human beings. This reminds us that the power to live for God does not come from our own strength. It comes from Him.
God often works through weak, ordinary people so that His power can be seen clearly. We may feel tired, tempted, discouraged, or unable, but God is able to give us what we need. Our weakness does not stop Him. In fact, it can become the place where His strength is shown the most.
That is why we must rely on Christ and not ourselves. Jesus said in John 15:5 that apart from Him we can do nothing. Christian living is not about self-confidence; it is about God-confidence. We obey, serve, forgive, love, and keep going because His grace holds us up.
The story of Jesus healing the man who could not walk reminds us that spiritual change is also the work of Christ. When Jesus told the man to rise and walk, the power to do it came from Jesus. In the same way, when God calls us to turn from sin and walk in obedience, He also gives the grace and strength we need.
Christianity is not just something we claim on Sunday. It is something we live Monday through Saturday too. Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our lives to God as a living sacrifice. That means our choices, attitudes, words, relationships, and actions should reflect Him wherever we are.
Living by faith does not mean we will never struggle. It means we keep coming back to God. We repent when we fall, we ask for help when we are weak, and we keep trusting Him to finish the work He started in us. Day by day, the Holy Spirit renews our minds and teaches us not to simply copy the ways of the world, but to live in a way that honors God.
So let us not be Christians in name only. Let us be Christians in our lifestyle. Let our faith be seen through obedience. Let our love for God be shown in how we speak, how we treat people, how we make decisions, and how we respond when life is hard.
When people look at our lives, may they see more than a label. May they see the light of Christ, the power of God working through weak vessels, and a faith that is being lived out every day.
Minister A Francine Green, August 2026