True Faith Cannot Lie Dormant

[cavell]

True evangelical faith is of such a nature it cannot lie dormant, but spreads itself out in all kinds of righteousness and fruits of love. It dies to flesh and blood, 
it destroys all lusts and forbidden desires, 
it seeks, serves and fears God in its inmost soul, 
it clothes the naked, 
it feeds the hungry;
 it comforts the sorrowful, 
it shelters the destitute, 
it aids and consoles the sad, it does good to those who do it harm,
 it serves those that harm it, it prays for those who persecute it, 
it teaches, admonishes and judges us with the Word of the Lord, 
it seeks those who are lost, 
it binds up what is wounded, 
it heals the sick,
 it saves what is strong (sound), it becomes all things to all people.
 The persecution, suffering and anguish that come to it for the sake of the Lord’s truth have become a glorious joy and comfort to it.

--Menno Simons (1496 – 31 January 1561, Anabaptist leader. Simons was a contemporary of the Protestant Reformers and his followers became known as Mennonites).

 

[Emmy]

Dear cavell. Yes, true faith can never lie dormant, and Jesus shows us a good way. Faith without Love is meaningless. In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells us:
"The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. The second is like it: Love our neighbour as ourselves." Then Jesus points out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." No true faith without love.
In Matthew 7: 7-10: we are told to ask and to receive, and we can keep asking and receiving, then thank God and share all Love and Compassion and Joy with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends.
We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring. People will notice our Love for each other, and people will treat us the same.
The Bible tells us to " Repent and to be Born Again," to change from being selfish and always wanting our own way, to being Loving and Caring for our neighbour. Love is very catching, and before long, we will be Born Again as God wants us to be. God is Love and God wants loving sons and daughters.
The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. I say this with love, cavell. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.