Luke 24:11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

I just had a revelation about the Japanese language. The term used where the NIV says “believe” is usually translated into English as “trust,” but I just realized the characters used mean, “believe and make use of.” It’s the term used for “bank and trust company.” The thing that hit me is that we can think we believe something, but if we don’t act on it, can we really say we believe it? Far too much of our theology is theoretical; we don’t put it into practice. We say we believe various things, but until push comes to shove, those things don’t become real to us. The apostles considered what the women told them to be nonsense, so they weren’t about to act on it. The closest exception mentioned here was Peter, though we know from John’s account that he went to the tomb also. I feel that Peter actually going to the tomb prepared him for the personal visit he had from Jesus, (1 Corinthians 15:5) because it was applying the hope – not yet faith – that Jesus might be other than the abused corpse Peter had last seen. We need to examine what we believe and strive to put that faith into action in our daily lives. If we don’t trust God’s Word enough to live it out, can we really say we believe it?

This is certainly a question for me as well. I am considered a theologian by many, an “expert” on the Bible and the things of God, but if I’m not applying the truth that is in my head, I can’t say it’s really the faith that sustains me. That’s why I’m very grateful for the SOAP system of devotions that I’ve been following ever since I heard Wayne Cordeiro explain it. Scripture is obvious enough, since devotions include reading the Bible. Observation is logical, but can be very subjective without the guidance of Holy Spirit. However, it’s Application where the rubber hits the road: what am I going to do about what I think God is saying through the passage? (Interestingly, that’s exactly the section I’m in at this very moment! The final step is Prayer.) If I don’t apply what God says to me, then I’m like the son who told his father, “Yes, I’ll do what you ask,” and then didn’t do it. (Matthew 21:28-31) To be honest, just writing that makes me examine myself carefully. As I have written before, I am certainly a man of words, but if I don’t apply those words in love, for God and for my neighbor, then I am “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)

Father, thank You for this clear call to commitment. You are changing various things about my life at this point, but You and Your words do not change. Help me trust everything You say to me enough to act on it fully, doing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!