EVIDENCE OF FAITH— FAITH WORKS!

EVIDENCE OF FAITH—FAITH WORKS!

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 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… As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. —James 2:17-20, 26

I say I am a carpenter, but you never see me do carpentry. I say I am a nurse, but you never see me nursing anyone. I say I am a mechanic, but you never see me working on cars. I say I am a truck driver, but you never see me driving a truck. I say I am a ________________, but you never see me doing anything that proves I am. I say that I am a follower of Jesus, but is there evidence that I am? Are there deeds I am doing that are founded in my faith in my Lord Jesus? Is there evidence in my life that I truly know Jesus?

            A person can say they are a carpenter, a nurse, a mechanic, a truck driver, a __________, but is this truly seen in their actions. So too a person can say they are a “Christian,” but is this seen in their actions? So say something without evidence is useless! So it is “that faith without deeds is useless.”

            So is there evidence in my life that I am truly a follower of Jesus? I am not doing works to be seen. I am not doing works to brag. I am not doing works to gain salvation. I am doing works out of my faith in Jesus and for His glory. I do works in obedience because I love Him who has asked me to do so. That’s the reason. I want to honor my Lord’s requests and commands.

            So, as it has been said, “If you were brought into court of law to be tried for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Or to put it another way, are you being obedient to Jesus and serving Him out of love for God and love for neighbor?” May it be so!

Dear Father, may I be faithful in serving in the works that You have prepared for me to do. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.