Active Belief Acts 18:19 - 19:41

by Mike Durrill

[18] Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. [19] And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. [20] So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. - Act 19:18-20 ESV

Throughout the Scriptures one reads of people that do works that contradict belief in God. One also reads of works that people do which correspond with belief. This certainly reminds one of the old adage, "Actions speak louder than words".

James, the brother of Jesus, in his letter to the Jewish brethren scattered due to persecution writes, "Faith without works is dead being alone".

In this Acts 19 passage you have people who "were now believers" recognizing that their past behavior no longer corresponded with their new belief. Change must take place. There must be a severing of the old and a cleaving to the new.

The Apostle Paul reminds these same believers - [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2Cr 5:17 ESV

He also writes to the Roman Christians, [11] Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. [12] The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. - Rom 13:11-12 ESV

Isn't it refreshing to see new believers in Jesus Christ make specific, active changes in their everyday living? Yet, I think it is just as refreshing for the LORD to see "mature" believers making specific, active changes in our everyday living as well. There is always room for growth in regards to behavior matching belief.

The evil behavior may not be as obvious as witchcraft, but yet still anti-belief. Perhaps it is an attitude towards your spouse or children that is self serving? Or maybe negative comments shared to someone regarding another person? It could be eating or spending habits that need to be given over to God?

Whatever they may be, all of us are in a position to seek the LORD continually and ask him for the faith to change our living to match our belief.