One of my favorite episodes in the life of Jesus is recorded in chapter two of Mark’s gospel. There we read the account of how Jesus heals and forgives a paralyzed man who was carried to Jesus by four of his friends. Notice what v.5 says—“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”

Jesus actually saw their faith. Their faith was not some vague notion that they held in their minds.  Nor was it a warm feeling they had in their hearts. Their faith was visible. It was seen in their actions. They believed that Jesus could heal their friend, therefore they did something about it—they brought him to Jesus.

Faith must be visible. It must be expressed in actions that can be seen. James hammers this point home in James 2—“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (v.17). “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” (v.24). “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (v.26).

We must not be deluded into a false sense of security when it comes to our faith. Our faith cannot be hidden; it must be visible!

And one excellent way that we can show our faith is the way we see it expressed in Mark 2—by bringing somebody to Jesus!