FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS NONPRODUCTIVE

“Thus also faith by itself, it if does not have works, is dead.”—James 2:17

 

I read a cartoon in a magazine that depicted a house surrounded by flooding water and a man sitting on top of the roof.  He was praying for God to save him.  A man came by in a row boat; he told the man on the roof to jump in, but the man replied that He did not need to be rescued because God was going to rescue him.  The water kept rising until it was nearly up to the roof.  A helicopter came and lowered a basket for him to get into; however, again the man told the pilot that he did not need to be rescued because God would.  The next scene showed the man in heaven talking to God; he said, “I prayed for you to save me, why didn’t you?”  God replied, “I did; I sent a row boat and a helicopter.” 

 

Although the message in the cartoon was meant to evoke humor, it carries a powerful message, which is that faith requires action.  God has already done His part; we must do our part.  This is why we always tell people to do what they could not do before when we pray for their healing.  You will act on what you believe.  Faith with corresponding actions will always produce result.  If you are asking God for prosperity, then you must give. Someone who says that they believe God for prosperity, but do not give, is deceiving themselves.  A person who says, “I am healed,” but continues to act sick and dwell on their symptoms, will kill whatever faith they have.  Furthermore, a person who intercedes for someone and then still worries whether anything will ever happen is not acting in faith.  

 

True biblical faith must be acted upon it will always produce results.  I encourage you to act upon what you believe.  Do you believe that you are healed?  If so, then you must act like it. Do you believe that God answers prayers?  Then do not give any thought or energy to the contrary of what you have prayed.  Say what God has to say about the situation and you will be amazed at how things will begin to turn around for you.

 

Prayer—Father thank you that my faith is active and energized, and today with your help I will put actions to my faith, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

YOUR ACTIONS WILL FLOW FROM A CLEANSED HEART

“And He aid, ‘what comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from with, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. Al these evil things come from within and defile a man.”—Mark 7:20-23

 

The outward appearance of a person is not important.  It is the condition of a person’s heart that matters to God.  However, mankind has not always understood this.  The covenant of circumcision was give to Abram in Genesis 17:9-14.  God said that any man who did not carry this sign of the covenant in his flesh was to be killed.  This placed a great importance on the act of circumcision.  The Apostle Paul tells us that Abraham had already been justified by faith before he was circumcised, in Romans 4:3-13.  Abram’s faith in God and His promise saved him at least thirteen years before He commanded Abram to be circumcised.

 

Down through the centuries, the Jews turned their focus to the outward act of circumcision instead of the inward act of faith as the reason for salvation.  This, too, was a source of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders.  They emphasized all the outward acts the Lord had commanded and were totally disregarding the condition of their hearts.  Jesus said that if an individual would cleanse their heart, their actions would inevitably change too. 

 

The condition of a person’s flesh is not the important thing.  God is interested in a person’s heart, not if their flesh has been circumcised or not.  Today, the religious questions center around the doctrine of water baptism, church membership, and other outward acts that some preach are necessary for salvation. 

 

Your faith in the love of God, as expressed through Jesus on the Cross and in His resurrection is the only thing God demands for your justification.  Religious rites mean nothing when it comes to salvation.  Your heart is what matters to God.  You can rejoice today that your heart safely trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that my heart is right with You and because it is out of the abundance of my heart my mouth will utter things that are pleasing to You, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

GOD IS THE FATHER WHO IS ALWAYS WITH US

“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers…”—Malachi 4:6

  

Every person has their own idea of what a Father means to them.  Most people agree that when the word “Father” is used that they will always relate it to the father figure in their home; good –or bad.   Sadly all over the world, no matter what the reason may be, a father may not present in the home on a full-time basis. 

 

I want to encourage you today that god the father is always present. “…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).  Of the many names that are given to God to describe who He is, the name Heavenly Father is one of great comfort to us.  Although no father on earth is perfect, we have a Heavenly Father who longs to show you His love—unfailing, forgiving and faithful. 

 

Never forget that once you decide to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you become a child of the Most High God.  He becomes your Father and you become His child.  “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is reveled, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is’ (1 John 3:2). 

 

1 John 4:8 tells us that, “…God is love.”  Just as our Heavenly Father longs to express His love to His children let us purpose in our hearts to express the love of God to our world.  Let the world around you know that God is the FATHER who is always present by the words and actions that you express to them.  You may be the only contact that they will ever have to know a father or to turn their hearts to Him.  Our Heavenly Father has no way to express Himself through except by your hands, your feet and your words.

 

Prayer—Heavenly Father, thank You for your unconditional love to me, and help me to always have a grateful heart and expressing Your love to my world around me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

ACTIONS TAKE FAITH

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgive you.”—Mark 2:5

 

James wrote in his Epistle to the Jewish believers that, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).  Faith must work; it must be visible; it must produce.  Verbal faith is not enough; nor, is mental faith sufficient.  James stressed that true faith inspires action and is manifested in works of faith. 

 

How do you see faith?  You see faith like you see the wind.  You can not see wind, but you can see the effects of the wind by seeing things blown by the wind.  Likewise, you cannot see faith, but a person’s actions will prove when they are acting in faith.

 

While Jesus was staying in Capernaum, many people came to the house where He was staying to hear Him preach.  So many people came, that there was not anymore room in the house.  Some friends of a man who was paralyzed carried him to Jesus; however, upon arrival they discovered there was no room for them to get their friend to Jesus.  Not giving up, the friends cut a hole in the roof where Jesus was, and let the bed down on which their friend was laying to Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”  The religious leaders, who were sitting and listening to Jesus, began to think in their hearts that no one could forgive sins but God.  Immediately, Jesus perceived in His spirit what they were thinking, and responded to their thoughts by saying, “…that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins…take up your bed, and go to your house” (Mark 2:8-11).  The paralytic man immediately stood up, gathered up his bed, and left the house.  Everyone there was amazed and began to say, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:1-12). 

 

These men could have believed that Jesus could heal their friend, but then took no action on what they believed.  However, because they acted upon what they believed their friend experience a healing, and Jesus was able to use the occasion to teach about forgiveness.  Actions are a vital part of faith.  For faith to be seen, corresponding actions must accompany faith (James 2:17).

 

Prayer—Father I determine in my heart to walk in genuine trust and reliance upon you, in Jesus Name. Amen.