YOUR ACTION MANIFESTS YOUR FAITH IN GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 01, 2023.

SUBJECT : YOUR ACTION MANIFESTS YOUR FAITH IN GOD!

Memory verse: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2 vs 26.)

READ: James 2 vs 14 - 20:

2:14: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 

2:15: If a brother or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food,

2:16: 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?

2:17: Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

2:18: 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.

2:19: You believe that there is one God. You did well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 

2:20: But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

INTIMATION:

One’s action manifests his or her faith in God. If one claims to have faith in God, and yet does not manifest such in the behavior of his or her life, then his or her faith is of no profit toward salvation. True love of God cannot be seen without obedience to the commandments of God (First John 5 vs 3). If you say you have faith in God, you act in accordance with His Word, therefore, you will be a doer of the Word of God. Christ said, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15 vs 12). 

Jesus showed love to us; He is compassionate, loving, forgiving, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and finally demonstrated an unprecedented show of love by dying in our place for our sins. He gave His life of inestimable value for our lives (our lives of sin) that are completely worthless. He was completely selfless. Jesus had faith in His Heavenly Father, and did all He commanded Him to do. If one claims to have faith in God, and yet does not manifest such benevolent actions in his or her behavior toward others, then that one’s faith is self-deception, and barren.

Unless you are a doer of the Word, your words may be lovely, and beautiful, but they are mere empty words without corresponding actions, and they are never crystallized or made real. Unless you are a doer of the Word, you are not a believer of the Word. You only have mental assent without action, and it is mere empty profession of religion of words. 

Jesus would call the aforementioned persons builders on a sand foundation, just as a sand house made by idle hands on the seashore are destroyed by the next incoming tide. Such religion of Word without corresponding action is very dangerous, and results in self-delusion.

Faith works through love (Galatians 5 vs 6). If you have faith in God, you will love as He loves, and show your love in deeds as He did. Though we are saved by faith, not by deeds, but our deeds in love are indicators of our faith. Because faith expresses itself through love, you can check your love for others as a way to monitor your faith. 

Deeds of loving service are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, our faith in Christ. The works referred to in this context do not refer specifically to keeping the commandments of law. Reference here is good deeds toward one’s fellow human. Such deeds are the manifestation of one’s faith. Therefore, one’s faith must be manifested by his benevolent actions toward others. Faith without benevolent actions is self-deception on the part of the one who seeks to please God on his or her conditions.

The apostle John gave an instance of true love in his epistle in First John 3 vs 16 - 17: "By this we know love, because He laid His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love God abide in him?” The greatest act of love is giving oneself for others. How then can we “lay down our lives for others”? By serving others with no thought of receiving anything in return. Sometimes it is easier to say we’ll die for others than to truly live for them—this involves putting others’ desires first. 

The supposed Christian who has convinced himself that he can live the Christian life without being benevolent toward destitute brethren, is vainly living in the uselessness of his own selfish religiosity. His religion is impure and defiled. Real love is an action, not a feeling. It produces selfless, sacrificial giving. 

At the point of death, the spirit of man leaves the body. Death is defined as a separation of body and spirit. Dead faith is defined by a separation of faith and works. The absence of works, therefore, is an indication of a dead faith. One cannot claim to have an active faith if he does not respond to God’s will in his life. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of faith working through love, that I may be an ambassador for Christ, doing the required good works, fulfilling the law of Christ by bearing other’s burdens, In Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!