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A Measure of Faith
By Jason | January 6, 2010
What does it mean to have faith? I know the “church answer”, and most people who attend church can quote: Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope and certain of what we do not see.” That’s great. But James describes faith differently. He describes a faith that is active; a faith that is constantly working and demonstrating itself. Essentially James is saying that faith can be seen by the deeds a person produces. Certainly the Hebrew writer was correct in his definition of faith, but James takes it a step further describing faith:
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 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 what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:14-26
How does this passage speak to you? Do you just believe? Or are you allowing your faith to manifest itself through your actions, your service, and your life? Are you backing up your claim of faith with works or is your faith just empty words?
We have just started a new year. Let 2010 be a year in which your faith shows to all those around you. Allow your faith to be demonstrated through your love, your compassion, your involvement at church, your service to others, and your good deeds!
Topics: Food for thought, Ministry |
January 12th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
When those four guys lowered their paralytic friend down through the roof to Jesus, Scripture says our Lord “saw their faith.”
Faith is real. You can see it. You can hear it. You can touch it and taste it and smell it.
James was right. So is Jason!