A Doing Heart
A doing heart is a heart that takes action. It is a heart that acts in accordance to the Word it receives.
The Lord speaks to us constantly through His Word. He guides us, gives us promises and teachings. But, all these are “null” in our lives if we do not consciously act on His Word.
Have you noted that every miracle recorded in the Bible required action on the part of the individual? Let us sample a few of these miracles.
1. Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath:
Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
1 Kings 17:7 -16 (NIV)
This was a double miracle. It was a miracle for Elijah and for the widow. Both of their susteinance was dependent on their acting on the Word of the Lord.
2. The Woman with the Issue of Blood
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:43-48 (NIV)
I love this miracle. This woman took an action that actually startled Jesus. He actually stopped what He was doing to find out who this person was who had managed to draw out His power without so much of an action on His part. There was something so supernatural about her act, that she actually caused the Lord to still Himself. That is the power of a doing heart!
3.Peter Heals the Lame Beggar
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Acts 3:1-8 (NIV)
This man was lame from birth. Healing was not on his agenda that day. His to do list was to collect as much money as possible through begging. But, his simple act of taking Peter by the Word, led to a once in a lifetime type of miracle.
Why is ‘Doing’ Important?
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:14-26 (NKJV)
Your Turn
We have seen previously that the blessings of God are received by doing whatever He tells you.
Today we see that we express our faith in Who He is and in His power through our actions. We have seen that without faith we cannot please God.
Today I ask, do your actions reflect the faith you proclaim? If not, what are you planning to do about it?