10/10/12- Cashing in the Word by Belief

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. (Hebrews 4:2)

(Old check)

Thought: The Word is to be combined with faith in order to be effective. When you act on the Word of God, the Word of God acts on you.  Believing in God is like claiming the promises of God.  I once knew a young man who got a birthday check from one of his relatives.  His parents gave him the check, and he put it in his bill fold.  Two years later, he was still carrying around the check in his wallet.  The check was good, but he still had to cash it in.  Believing is not just thinking God's Word is true, but it is going to the bank to cash it in.  

Prayer: Help me today, Lord, by increasing my faith giving me both a listening and a believing heart.