Faith-Based Works from James L Johnson

"Believe" I painted with Matthew 9:20-22 in mind. I think of the woman who believed that by simply touching the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be healed…and was! I know that we too can be healed, sometimes by very simple means. I’m also encouraged by the fact that even when God was living in time rather than eternity, He was not too busy for “the one.”

"Obey" refers to Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:4(1-13), It depicts a women filling her lamp with the extra oil of true faith, which is of course demonstrated by works (James 2:17-18) of obedience to our Savior’s gentle commands (see also John 14:15). My thought was that, while none of us are perfect, by regularly striving to follow Him, we develop holy habits that, like oil, can light our dark trials with His love and strength.

"Endure" highlights a most interesting decision made by the woman at the well (see John 4:5-30). She sought a simple slug of water from the pit - but what she found was so much better that she entirely abandoned both pot and water. I am touched that, after her powerful encounter with the Messiah, she "left her water pot" to tell others about Jesus, allowing that moment to mark the beginning—rather than the end—of her walk with the Lord.