SCRIPTURE:
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
James 2:14-17 NIV
OBSERVATION:
If you had to choose between death or life, which would you choose?
Most of you are thinking “the choice is a no-brainer––of course I would choose life. Life is clearly better. It is the “good” choice on countless levels.” Life is clearly better than death. You didn’t even need to take a second to think about it.
Now that being said, according to James, is your faith alive or dead? Which have you chosen? And what do your actions say?
As James writes in James 2:16 “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Later on at the end of this chapter, James reiterates in verse 26, “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” Without action, faith is dead. With action, faith is alive.
The writer of Hebrews defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Is your faith merely a philosophy or is it an action? Is it dead or alive?
APPLICATION:
Choose a living faith by putting your faith into action. Don’t settle for a mere belief system or philosophy––live it out. Today, be guided by your faith––in deed, in word, and in action. Let your faith guide all you do today. Let your faith inform the words you speak. Let your faith speak for itself through your life.
Today, may your words, your actions, and your life show others who you believe in. May your faith be vibrant and alive as you accompany your faith with your actions.
PRAYER:
God,
You are the living God! Thank You for loving me and for breathing life into me. I repent for the times I have fallen short and have settled for a dead faith, for faith is not a philosophy––it’s an action. God, would you breathe new life into my faith today as I put my faith into action. Help me to love with arms wide open like you do so that when others look in my eyes, they would see you. May someone experience Your love through my actions today.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
