Act on Your Belief

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 1 min. read • grade level: 11

John 7:17¹⁷If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17); Romans 6:16-18¹⁶Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. ¹⁸Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:16‑18); Romans 10:10¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)

When President Lincoln signed the proclamation of emancipation, copies of it were sent to all points along the Northern line, where they were posted. Now, supposing a slave should have seen a copy of that proclamation and should have learned its contents. He might have known the fact, he might have assented to its justice, but if he had still continued to serve his old master as a slave, his faith in the document would not have amounted to anything.

And so it is with us. A mere knowledge of the historical events of Christ’s life, or a simple intellectual assent to His teachings and His mission, will be of no help in a man’s life unless he adds to them a trustful surrender to the Lord’s loving kindness.

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