Recover in Silence by Van Shepard

I recently had surgery and I am recovering well. In my recovery stage, I have received many phone calls and well wishes. People asking, “How are you dong?” I mostly reply with a simple answer, not really having much to say. My short response was not because I did not want to tk, but because my answer only required a small word or two.

I realized then that sometimes faith does not take as much effort as we think. I know this is shocking to the Christian mindset, because we feel most of the time that we can only get up enough faith just to make it through the day. I’ve been down this road far too many times, so this revelation from God was new to my understanding.

While I was reading my Bible, God took me to a scripture that confirmed what was stirring in my spirit. In Luke, Chapter 5 (MSG) Jesus told a man that he had healed to go, but don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, and your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.

Wow, I realized in that moment God was teaching me a divine revelation. Sometimes when we render a lot of words, are we trying to convince ourselves or others? Are we really, just sharing our faith? Or should we just quietly do as Jesus said, and present our lives as evidence of our faith?

Consider this scripture for your edification:

2-7The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.

8-12 I thank God through Jesus for every one of you. That’s first. People everywhere keep telling me about your lives of faith, and every time I hear them, I thank him. And God, whom I so love to worship and serve by spreading the good news of his Son—the Message!—knows that every time I think of you in my prayers, which is practically all the time, I ask him to clear the way for me to come and see you. The longer this waiting goes on, the deeper the ache. I so want to be there to deliver God’s gift in person and watch you grow stronger right before my eyes! But don’t think I’m not expecting to get something out of this, too! You have as much to give me as I do to you. Romans 1: 2-7 (MSG)