Weekly Reading: Chapters 15, 16, and 17

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Hey everyone, Spencer here! Welcome back to another episode of Character in Crisis.

This week we find Tip in another difficult situation. He is praying for his sister’s salvation but isn’t doing anything to make her aware of her need. Like Tip, it is often easier for most of us to pray about something than to do something. Puzzled by God’s lack of answer to his prayers, Tip goes to the minister for help and receives an unexpected response:

“Sometimes we spend all our strength in praying, and don’t work; then, often, we don’t believe we shall get what we’re praying for…do you work while you pray? I mean, do you talk with Kitty; tell her what you are praying for,—urge her to come to Christ,—try to show her how?”

Prayer and action—that wonderful and blessed partnership. Have you ever experienced a time when it felt like God wasn’t answering your prayers? Perhaps God was waiting for you to do something? But is prayer always dependent upon us doing something? No. Jesus said:

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye
receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).

Does this mean that prayer does not need any action on our part? No. In the book of I John we read:

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (I John 3:22).

Tip was compelled by Minister Holbrook to put his faith into action because his faith was lacking. And so he sets out, courageous to do the work before him. Facing his fear, he invites Kitty to church and talks to her about her need for salvation.

Tip is now living out Ephesians 2:10,

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Is there something that you have been praying about that requires a combination of faith and works? Tip is about his Father’s business, and is learning that “faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Until we meet again,