Faith That Will Not Be Held Back: Actively Seeking Christ
In this article, Rev. Sang Ho Bae describes the faith of people in the Matthew 9 narrative.
In a person’s life, an active attitude is a very important element. A person who thinks and acts actively seizes more opportunities and gains richer results than someone who is passive and negative. Even in Scripture, we see that those who sought the Lord actively experienced His amazing grace. The people recorded in Matthew chapter 9 are precisely such examples. They came to the Lord and were healed of sickness, raised from death, and delivered from demon-possession; and the common point among all of them is that they were people who came to the Lord actively with faith.
Jairus, the synagogue leader, laid aside his social dignity and fell before Jesus to plead with Him. “A ruler came and knelt before Him and said, ‘My daughter has just died.' But come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live" (Matt. 9:18). Although he was a man of social standing, he was not bound by his position or outward dignity. Because he believed that Jesus had the power to raise his daughter, he came to the Lord without worrying about people’s eyes. His faith was a faith that acted actively.
The woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage was the same. For twelve years she had suffered and had been regarded socially as an unclean person, but she held the belief, “If I only touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment, I will be healed,” and she pushed through the thick crowd and went forward. Jesus saw her faith and said, “Daughter, take heart; your faith has made you well” (Matt. 9:22). Her faith appeared as active action that overcame obstacles.
The two blind men also cried out toward Jesus: “Son of David, have mercy on us” (Matt. 9:27). They raised their voices and earnestly sought the Lord’s compassion. The reason they could do this was that they were convinced that the Lord could restore their sight. Jesus said to them, “According to your faith be it done to you” (Matt. 9:29).
True faith inevitably appears in action, and that action leads one to experience the Lord’s power. In this way, Matthew chapter 9 clearly shows to whom the Lord’s hand comes. Grace is not a random gift that falls upon those who remain still. Grace is God’s gift given to those who actively come to Jesus. The Lord said, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who take it by force” (Matt. 11:12). This means that the faith that obtains the kingdom of heaven is not a faith that stays at mere agreement or emotion but a faith that acts actively in order to enter the kingdom.
Jacob was a person predestined to receive God’s blessing even before he was born, but that blessing became reality through his active actions. He seized the birthright through concrete action. God’s decree is fulfilled in human life through actions of faith. Lying under an apple tree does not make an apple fall into one’s mouth. Only when one stretches out one’s hand and picks it does one obtain it. It is not a faith that ends with simply saying, “I believe,” but a faith that puts what one believes into action that is the faith that seizes blessing. Faith grows not from a passive attitude but from an active one.
When we look at people whose faith does not grow even after many years of Christian life, we commonly see that their attitude of faith is not active. Even small matters cause them to easily miss the places where grace is given, such as worship or gatherings. On the other hand, those whose faith grows seek out on their own the places where grace is given. They cherish worship and desire to know the Word more deeply. Even when participating in worship, grace permeates more deeply into the person who engages with both heart and body. When singing hymns, rather than only moving the lips, lifting one’s voice to exalt God opens the heart and allows grace to flow. And when one raises one’s hands or places a hand on one’s chest while singing, even greater grace comes. It is the same in prayer. When praying with hands clasped or straightening one’s clothes and kneeling, grace reaches the heart more deeply. The attitude with which one listens to the sermon is also important. There is a different measure of grace between just listening and listening with an “Amen” in response. A person who receives the Word with such an active heart experiences greater grace. When one receives the Word with an active posture, at some moment that Word sinks deeply into the heart, renews the soul, and resolves the tangled issues of life.
The people in Matthew chapter 9 all came to Jesus actively. Because they had faith, they were not held back by concern for appearances and broke through obstacles. Jesus gladly saw their faith and bestowed His power. Today, when we also seek the Lord actively as they did, we will experience in our lives the gracious help that the Lord gives.
Check Faith in Motion and I hope you enjoy the Ai-generated song version of this article.