James 2:14-20
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, isdead.
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 dead?
***************
Works do not save you, friends, but if you say you have faith, yet do not have spiritual fruit in your life showing your faith, then chances are your faith is dead, or was never alive to begin with. Your faith, which involves having the love of Christ within you, will manifest itself by showing love to the lost, the needy, to the hurt, to the broken, to the outcast. Your faith will not abide by heartless statements such as, "The poor can help themselves" or "They're not my problem." Your faith, if it is real, will cause your heart to break for those who are lost, who are in need....because it is the love of Christ in you which will overflow and you will begin to see those in need with His eyes. They are precious to God, made in His image....and He wants YOU to reach out and help them, and to love them.
Is your faith alive....or dead?
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, isdead.
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 dead?
***************
Works do not save you, friends, but if you say you have faith, yet do not have spiritual fruit in your life showing your faith, then chances are your faith is dead, or was never alive to begin with. Your faith, which involves having the love of Christ within you, will manifest itself by showing love to the lost, the needy, to the hurt, to the broken, to the outcast. Your faith will not abide by heartless statements such as, "The poor can help themselves" or "They're not my problem." Your faith, if it is real, will cause your heart to break for those who are lost, who are in need....because it is the love of Christ in you which will overflow and you will begin to see those in need with His eyes. They are precious to God, made in His image....and He wants YOU to reach out and help them, and to love them.
Is your faith alive....or dead?
No comments:
Post a Comment