AUGUST 3, 2012
Faith
With Works
Read:
James 2:14-26
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. —James 2:17
Because of his
arthritis, Roger could no longer handle the winters
of Illinois, so he moved to
tropical Bangkok, Thailand. One day he
remembered his grandmother’s favorite
song, “What You Are”: What
you are speaks so loud that the world can’t hear
what you say; they’re
looking at your walk, not listening to your talk; they’re
judging from
your actions every day.
This song prompted
Roger to feed the homeless who stayed along a
half-mile stretch of road. Every
morning, he served hot food to more
than 45 families. Years later, one of the
homeless women came to
know Jesus as Savior and sought out Roger to thank him
for introducing
her to the love of Christ.
In James, we are
clearly told that faith without works is dead (2:17).
It does not mean that
works will result in faith, but that good works
will affirm that our faith is
real. It is easy to say we believe in God, but
only our works can prove the
truthfulness of our words. Abraham was
an example of this. He didn’t just talk
about his faith; he demonstrated
it by his willingness to give up his only son
in obedience to God (James
2:21-24; see Gen. 22:1-18). And Isaac was spared.
Today, how can we
actively demonstrate our love for God and trust in Him?
Faith is the power that prompts us to go
And give to the hungering, bread—
Faith means much more than a doctrine or two,
For faith without works is dead. —Woodrum
What
matters is not faith and works; it is not faith or works; it is
faith that
works.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
