Romans 1:17 AMP
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “The just and upright shall live by faith.”
Word for the Journey
I believe there are two ways to live the Christian life: we can either walk actively with the Lord or be passive in our walk. To be passive is to know God, but not honor Him. In this place you believe He is and He exits, you have accepted Jesus even, but their is no fruit or growth coming from your walk with the Lord.
When we accept Jesus but don’t turn from the sins that keep us bound to the world, it leads to passivity in our walk. This is due to lack of effort and engagement- not on the Lord’s part, but on ours. We are passive about the things the Lord requires of us as believers, yet we call ourselves Christians. When we are passive, we lack the fear of the Lord and walk in pride. Jesus said, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11), but in passivity, we believe we can still live in our fleshly nature and be accepted in the Beloved.
To be active is to know God, follow Christ, and honor Him. We are dedicated to Him when we are active in our pursuit of Christ and all things given and promised to us by the Lord in the Word. We abide, we seek after Him, we are devoted to Him above all else- not just in works, but in heart posture.
The difference between being active and being passive is the difference between merely calling oneself a Christian and truly living as a Christ-follower.
To be active is to be engaged—heart, mind, and will turned toward Christ.
To be passive is to be disengaged—present in name, but absent in devotion, obedience, and love.
What makes this so alarming is that many people do not recognize that passive is their condition, and God is not pleased.
Let’s look at this in terms of faith.
As believers and co-laborers in the body of Christ, our foundation as Christ-followers is faith- Faith in God and Faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
What Is Active Faith?
Active faith hears God and responds. It is faith that moves.
Active faith is:
- Engaged – it leans in to listen for God’s voice.
- Obedient – it does what God says, even when it doesn’t fully understand.
- Persistent – it keeps praying, declaring, and trusting when there is delay or silence.
There is no place for fear, doubt, or unbelief when we live in a place of active faith.
Elijah is an example. He was a man of active faith. He walked in the power and authority given to him by God with confidence and boldness. There was no stopping him when he walked in that place.
1 Kings 17:1 NKJV
And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
Elijah was persistent—and his perseverance became the doorway for God’s power to be revealed. When He said that, it happened immediately. That’s active faith!
What is Passive Faith?
Passive faith believes in God but does not respond in obedience. It agrees that God is powerful, but it does not move, act, or persevere based on what God has said.
Passive faith sounds like:
- “I know God can,” but rarely steps out as if He will.
- “I know God is faithful,” but still lets fear or doubt make the final decisions.
- “I’ll pray about it someday,” instead of actually praying with persistence and expectation.
Passive faith is real in the mind but inactive in life. It does not produce obedience, courage, or perseverance. Passive faith waits for everything to feel safe, certain, and comfortable before obeying. It wants reassurance more than it wants obedience. It believes in God, but it does not partner with God. Passive faith does not seek Holy Spirit for guidance, but instead goes through life not seeing relationship or direction from the One who gives life!
As I showed previously, Elijah walked in active faith. He boldly declared the drought at his word, trusting the authority God had given him. After that, he left and went to the Brook Cherith simply “according to the word of the LORD.” There the Lord took care of him throughout the drought. See… Elijah live in the land he proclaimed a drought. The Lord didn’t tell him before the proclamation that He’d take care of him. Elijah said it and I believe Elijah knew the Lord would be with him. Why? Active faith!
Through Elijah, we see that faith is not to be passive. It is active, engaged, and persistent. Active faith holds onto the character and promises of God even when circumstances do not yet line up. It refuses double‑mindedness and partners with God to see His purposes accomplished.
If Elijah had walked in passive faith, he would have:
- Stayed silent instead of declaring, “There shall not be dew nor rain…except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1).
- Worried about how he would survive the drought instead of trusting that God would provide at the brook.
- Given up when he didn’t see immediate results instead of praying again. (I’ll go into this more on a later post)
When the Lord showed me this, I was convicted. I stopped and asked Him, “Lord, am I active in faith or passive?”
I sat and sought Him about it. I didn’t just want to post a blog, but not live it out myself. So I asked Him to show me me. Moreover, I dare not think I’m in a place with the Lord I am not, and I don’t find out until the end when I meet Him. God forbid!
My stance– “Father, show me now so I can repent and walk this life out holy before you!”
James 5:17-18 NKJV
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
To live this life we must be active in our relationship, our pursuit and our faith with God. Holy Spirit must lead us and be our guide. This will keep us from compromise and complacency in our time on earth. If, like Elijah, we turn from being passive to being active, we can do the works he did. Active faith and our daily walk with God are not expressed only through outward works.
Yes, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching many with the light of God’s Word. But active faith goes beyond feeding the homeless and caring for orphans; it also involves trusting God to move mountains by faith. It is what Elijah did- using the authority and power given to us by faith and having confidence in God that he both hears us and will respond.
How can we live this life of power and authority in Christ? To be in this place of active faith that moves mountains, we must let go of all that would distract or detur us from actively reading the Word, praying, and fasting. These are three core disciplines need to live in an active faith lifestyle. We also must seek to be filled with Holy Spirit and be led by Him.
I pray we seek the Lord and ask Him where we are in our walk with Him. I pray He highlights to each of us who seek Him whether we are active or passive in our relationship with Him and in our faith. I pray we realize we can do what Elijah did, because the Word says he was a man like us! Let us not be unwise, thinking we are living holy, but instead living in dishonor to the Lord with a lack of fear of the Lord.
Encouragement for the Journey
Romans 1:20-25 NKJV
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Promises for the Journey 
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