FAITH ACTS AND IS NOT PASSIVE

FAITH ACTS AND IS NOT PASSIVE

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. —James 1:22-25

It is self deception to merely listen to the Word of God without doing what it says. Self deception is to hear the Word of God and then immediately forgetting what was heard. What has the Lord God Almighty been asking you to do? Remember, our doing come out of our being. We serve Him because we love Him.

Those who look “intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” So the truly blessed person is the person who continues in what they have heard. They experience freedom and by applying what they heard brings blessing in what they do.

God calls us to service. We are to be like Jesus in this. He was a Servant (Philippians 2:6-8). “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). Not only that but He “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). This is why James says that “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). Service gives evidence of one’s faith and that is why James also tells us that “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26).

Surely, “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Works do not save us, faith in the finished work of Jesus does! But for a person to say they are saved without any evidence of serving God with the spiritual gift or gifts He gives all believers, well that is questionable. Again, James 2:18-20 says, “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”

So, what has God said to you in His Word that He desires you to obey? How are you serving Him? If, as has been said, you were in court and charged with being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you? May it be so!

Dear Father, please help me not to be just a hearer of Your Word, but a doer of Your Word. May this be so in loving response and gratitude in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Sx_U0Ztr8