live it

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without living them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

I was greatly challenged by this passage this morning. I've heard it many times before but realized that I have to consistently check my life to make sure I'm living out what's in my heart and mind. So often we gain knowledge that piles up in our brains collecting dust or boosting our self esteem. It becomes our life to simply know more of the God in heaven, to unveil the mysteries of His character. We go to church on Sunday mornings and listen to sermons about Jesus and then spend every morning during the week in the word simply trying to understand it better.

I'm not saying those are bad things, because they aren't. I'm saying faith can't simply be that. Show me that you believe in God by how you live. In other words, don't let your faith be head knowledge and that's it. Display it by reaching out to the world.

Faith without works is dead. Live it.

[James 2:14-26]