The greatest testimony of our Christian Faith, is our faith in Action.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:14-20 NKJV
Faith Like Potatoes
A sign in our market at Saco River Farms reads, “Have Faith Like Potatoes!”
“Have faith like potatoes” is a quote by a farmer and Christian evangelist Angus Buchan. Author of a book of the same title, later turned into an award-winning big-screen movie about the author’s life, Faith like Potatoes. A charismatic revival evangelist with Scottish roots, living in South Africa, Angus would take most everyone by surprise. A farmer at heart, his favorite church is in the middle of the cornfield alone with God.
As Angus tells it, our faith must be tangible. Able to be held, grasped and seen. If the fruits of our faith cannot be seen, held and touched, then the question becomes… Is there any real fruit to our faith at all? It is one thing to know of God, another to know God as a friend, brother, father, partner. If you truly know God, then there will be fruit of it in your life and it will be tangible and easily seen or touched by others even if they cannot understand it.
Our faith must be simple, not made complex with countless rules or traditions. Simple but Real… Like potatoes!
Faith in Action
One of my favorite things on the farm is giving tours. Walking around our farmstead, it becomes clear right away that we have been exceptionally blessed. It’s a quiet and peaceful environment filled with flowers, fruit trees, vineyards, song birds and our growing herds of livestock. While the buildings and gardens are impressive, it is the unseen, or what lies beneath which speaks the loudest.
When we began our farm in Maine, we had no resources and no credit. We had no choice but to believe God for anything we needed. What we didn’t realize at the time, was this was God’s plan all along. A plan to teach us mountain moving faith! Looking around our farm today, it is hard to find anything without His fingerprints all over it. I remember well, each and every project we took on. How God gave the vision, faith and the means to see it through.
We’ve seen miraculous provision come in all forms imaginable. Our barn alone is a huge testimony of His limitless provision. It was He who put it on our heart to build something so beyond our means, without any debt. In fact, He even worked it out that we were able to borrow from ourselves and pay ourselves back with interest. Talk about a win-win! But one of the greatest miracles was witnessed by at least 5 people, as we all watched the Lord multiply concrete right before our eyes.
We’ll talk more about God’s provision in the wilderness in another post. However, what I want you to see here today, is that there are lasting testimonies everywhere on our farm. When we couldn’t afford to buy our first goat God provided a goat named “Promise.” Promise has her own Jesus testimony! Named by her previous owner, under specific instructions from the Lord, as a visible manifestation of the blessing of Abraham. She was quite literally prepared for us from before her birth, to become a namesake and foundational part of our farm. When her milking days were finished here, the Lord even provided her an amazing retirement home!
When we couldn’t afford a veterinarian, God healed our sick animals. When we need hay, it just shows up. When we needed a pond dug, God sends a man with an excavator, who wants to trade his service for a goat.
When we ran out of room on our farm, The Lord bought us a house next door. When we needed space to hold revival meetings and a roof upon which to mount solar panels, Jesus helped me build a post and beam pavilion. When we needed vehicles, He provided vehicles as well as the parts and means to fix them when needed.
This is faith in action! Tangible, potato like faith. Faith that is more than just an idea in someones head. It’s more than just believing there is a God and a savior. It is the everyday application of living as a member of God’s family.
Walking Out Your Faith
In 2017, Brother Angus received two instructions from the Holy Spirit… “It’s Time” and “1 million people”. With no budget, against all odds and only weeks to prepare, God used Angus to gather people from all over South Africa to pray for the nation. If you want to see real mountain moving faith… this is what it looks like… displayed through the life of one farmer.
To learn more about Angus Buchan, visit YouTube channel or website. Also, ask about our lending library the next time you visit our market.
