Filling Your Faith (Friday Devotional)

For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

- Ephesians 2:10

A trip to Freebirds World Burrito is always an exercise in decision making for me. The first few decisions come easy: which size burrito to get, which kind of tortilla, which meat. Those choices are easy, and my decision almost never changes. Same goes for the beans, rice, cheese, and salsa—decisions must be made, but they’re not exactly challenging.

But then I get to the crucible of any Freebirds order—what add-ons am I willing to pay for? Their queso is delicious—but it also adds $1.40 to my order. Same goes for the guacamole or sliced avocado. If I’m especially hungry and want some extra meat, that’ll cost me another $2.00. Even extra cheese comes with a price tag of $1.40. If you’re not careful, an eight dollar burrito can suddenly cost twice that—it all depends on whether you want to include the add-ons.

When it comes to your walk with Christ, there are certain beliefs you understand to be essential, doctrines which you cannot reject and rightly call yourself an orthodox Christian. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross to save you from your sins, you must believe he rose from the grave, and you must believe that placing your faith in him assures you of eternal life with God. These are all things that every Christian, from Roman Catholics to Egyptian Copts to Texas Baptists, would affirm—whatever our other differences, these are fundamental articles of faith. If Christianity were a burrito, these would be the tortilla—you need them just to get started.

Beyond those foundational beliefs, there’s a whole menu of items to choose from as you examine what it means to be a Christian. These questions, as major as the nature of Christ and as particular as how to properly baptize someone, have split the church for centuries. Sorting through all these different doctrines and deciding what you believe God wants is a crucial part of maturing in faith. If Christianity were a burrito, these beliefs would be the meat, rice, and other fillings—they fill out your faith, and you have an abundance of options.

Once you know what you believe, you come to one last step: what you do. How are you going to put your faith into action? Are your beliefs going to change the way you live? Unfortunately, there is a tendency to think of this last step like the add-ons to a Freebirds burrito—as something costly and ultimately unnecessary. After all, as long as I believe the right things, isn’t that enough?

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that God calls His children to more than just belief. Those who belong to Christ are created in him for good works, and God intends for faithful generosity to be our way of life. Serving others, caring for the needy, bearing witness to the grace of God—these are not optional parts of your walk with Christ, they are the direct result of a relationship with him.

Life in Christ means believing the right things, but we must never forget that it also means doing the right things. As you reflect on your own walk with Christ, may good works not be treated like add-ons—may loving others be an essential part of your order.