God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew
Week 9: The Customs Prayer — Faith as Action
Read Chapters 17–18 of God's Smuggler. Key passages: James 2:14–26; Hebrews 11:1.
Previewing Week 9 of God's Smuggler
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
The 'Customs Prayer' — Andrew's habit of asking God to make seeing eyes blind to his cargo of Bibles — is the most memorable moment in the book, and it raises the deepest question: what exactly is faith, and what does it look like when it becomes a verb?
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Describe the Customs Prayer in your own words. What was Andrew asking for, what was his posture as he prayed it, and what happened? Why has this particular prayer captured the imagination of so many millions of readers?
2.James 2:17 says that 'faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.' Brother Andrew's entire ministry is a dramatization of this principle. In what ways did his faith express itself in action — and in what ways did his action express itself back as deepened faith?
3.There is a recurring tension in these chapters between faith and prudence. Andrew took real precautions — he was strategic about which routes to use, which contacts to trust, and how to conceal Bibles. How does this practical wisdom coexist with his radical reliance on God?
a.Is there a difference between wisdom and lack of faith? Where is the line?
b.Are there areas of your life where you have used 'wisdom' as a cover for unbelief?