Peter said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. “You have so little faith.” When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. The eleven in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!” (Matthew 14:28-34)

The contrast couldn’t be more striking! Peter acted—jumped out and walked. Yes, he had “so little faith.” The eleven sat and paid lip service. Their faith is not mentioned. The point is obvious: faith functions. It operates. It acts. It moves. It works. It empowers. The great Faith Chapter, Hebrews 11, provides evidence.

• By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God …
• By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely …
• By an act of faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land …
• By an act of faith, Abraham traveled to an unknown place …
• By an act of faith Abraham offered Isaac back to God …
• By an act of faith, Moses’ parents hid him away for three months…
• By an act of faith, Moses chose a hard life with God’s people …
• By an act of faith, Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground …
• By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies …

 ^“Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?” (James 2:16-17)