It’s interesting to watch people who comb the beach with their metal detectors, trying to find something valuable. They patiently walk at a very slow pace, waving their wands in front of them. Occasionally they will stop and focus on an area of interest. Sometimes they decide that it would be worth their time to dig in that spot.

I am told that the better metal detectors can often tell the difference between something worthless, like a rusty nail or a pop top, and something valuable, like a coin or a piece of jewelry.

We have something that enables us to tell the difference between real faith and phony beliefs—it’s our obedience to the word of God.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”—James 1:22.

Is your faith valuable?