-November 22, 2021-
Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,
“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
(James 2:17).
Faith is active, it moves, it works, it helps others. It goes beyond mere words and platitudes to result in accomplishing God’s will. A faith that merely believes with nothing to back it up is useless. James asks the question to his readers, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can that faith (or as it can be translated, that kind of faith) save him” (James 2:14).?
Paul and James are not saying contradictory things regarding faith. Paul speaks of saving faith which is by grace through faith. James in writing to Christians is speaking of living out our faith in practical ways. James said in James 2:15, “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 do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?“
John said the something very similar to believers in 1 John 3:17-18, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed or in truth.” It comes down to showing not just saying; we put our faith and love into action. As the old expression goes, “The proof is in the pudding.” Or as noted Bible teacher J. Vernon McGee used to say, “It’s where the rubber meets the road.”
Jesus is our example: He put His love into action. He went out of His way to help people. He proved and demonstrated His love for us at Calvary. If we say we have faith and love our brethren, we must show it. If someone has a need and we have the means to help, we must help and give, otherwise our faith is dead. We often tell a brother or sister that we will pray for them, and we should, but when have the means to help, we should do so. How is your faith? Is it active, is it motivated by love? A living active faith has eyes to see, a heart to feel, and actions to work out.
Have a blessed day putting your faith into action and you will see how much that God can use you. Stay safe and healthy.
In His grace,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 