Belief Acts!

BELIEF ACTS! Not puts on an act! Not goes through the motions of the outward actions of certain rituals and pious deeds. Sincere BELIEF ACTS out in the life based on its stirring within the heart -- the soul -- the mind of the BELIEVER.

Jonah went! Jonah preached! Jonah made clear the warning of God’s punishment to be poured out on the city of Nineveh in forty days ( Jonah 3:4). And Nineveh believed! The message was not good. Punishment had been promised. And thus from the citizens (vs.5) up to the king (vs.6) was exhibited the reality their sins were serious, needed to be turned from, and hopefully God would relent and turn from His anger. (vs.9)

We don’t know all that the Ninevites might have believed about God. However, the fact they BELIEVED is made clear by their actions (read 3:5-9) as well as that we read God noted the sincerity of their repentance.

“When God saw what they did, how THEY TURNED FROM THEIR EVIL WAY, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” ( Jonah 3:10 ESV)

We might fool each other going through the motions of penitence, but God knows the heart. He knows whether or not we are truly sincere. And that is why we need to make sure our BELIEF in Him and His Word is genuine. If we truly BELIEVE, that BELIEF will work powerfully in our life to keep us moving in His direction.

Remember the words of James:
“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, SO ALSO FAITH APART FROM WORKS IS DEAD.” ( James 2:26 ESV)

BELIEVE God’s promises! BELIEVE God’s warnings! BELIEVE His commands have our best interests in mind and live accordingly. God eagerly responds to such sincerity in accepting His message!

Have a great day ACTIVELY BELIEVING GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Jonah