James 2: 14-26

Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 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. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 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. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 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? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

This scripture is one of those that I believe people misinterpret a lot. I have heard people give really interesting accounts of what they believe this is saying, such as that you can lose your salvation if you believe but don't act.

I more so, in a very humble unschooled mind, think it is showing you that once you truly believe and have faith that you will see action!!!! I mean how you think that once you become a Christian that your life doesn't change???? A person who has true faith will want to act on God's behalf in some way.

Now I am not saying that once you become a Christian you can't have moments in life where you get angry or depressed and don't want/feel like acting. I think we all go through those periods.

What I am saying is that once you give your life to Christ and let the Holy Spirit in; some part of you should want to do as much as possible for God.

In the Middle School Sunday School class Sunday we discussed how there should be a change after we become a Christian and where would we be if there wasn't a change. Now I can't tell you where I would be but I can tell you where I wouldn't be. I probably never would have married my husband (b/c he's a christian), I wouldn't have two beautiful girls and wouldn't be in Texas!

My life is forever changed b/c I surrendered to God and have faith. Doing works for Him to me is just a plus. (My love language does happen to be service so I know it's easier for me.)

Father God, help me see all the ways I can serve you in this life. Give me a servants heart and the means to serve. Thank you for the opputunites you have given me. Amen.