Divine Faith in Operation
by Chris Machamer
unto him for righteousness: and he was
called the Friend of God (James 2:21–23).
Abraham’s belief and obedience showed his
divine faith was in operation, and that faith
brought the righteousness and blessings of
God upon his life.
Hebrews 11, the faith chapter, speaks of
faithful Abraham saying, By faith Abraham,
when he was called to go out into a place
which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing
whither he went (Hebrews 11:8). God
called Abraham out from his country, his city
and his family and friends; and Abraham humbly
obeyed. He left behind everything he was
familiar with and set out on a journey without
knowing where it would take him.
To believe God is to obey Him in all things,
even when you don’t understand; and to obey
the Lord in very difficult times requires great
trust and humility. Abraham had those things.
Seek God’s Thoughts
It doesn’t matter how close to God you
live or how long you have served Him; no
one will ever know all the ways of God. The
Bible says, For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). That is why God’s
Word declares, The just shall live by faith
(Romans 1:17).
You can’t just use faith; you have to live by
it day after day, trusting the Lord with all your
heart and obeying all of His love commands.
If you don’t trust the Lord completely, you
will never obey Him and act on all that His
Word declares. Instead, you will lean on your
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead,
being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast
faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my
faith by my works. But wilt thou know, O
vain man, that faith without works is dead?
For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also (James
2:17,18,20,26). Using God’s divine faith
requires not only believing but also putting
that faith into operation and obeying God in
all things.
Many people claim to believe in God, but
their actions and works prove otherwise. Their
lifestyle, their language and their treatment of
others are contrary to the Word of God; and
He is displeased.
People who say they believe in God are
deceiving themselves when their lives are full
of sin and disobedience. The devil and his
kingdom believe in God, and they actually
show Him much more respect than people do
who openly defy or deny Him. James said,
Thou believest that there is one God; thou
doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble
(James 2:19). However, a devil’s belief in
God is in vain because his very existence is
unholy and evil, and he is incapable of pleasing
God in any way.
Abraham Obeyed God
James asked, Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered
Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou
how faith wrought with his works, and by
works was faith made perfect? And the
scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed
8