May 09, 2023 | Be On Mission
Faith Put into Action
Scripture: James 2 (NIV)
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
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.
Devotional
The second chapter of James is a continuation of the practical applications for living as Christians in the world. The first section is dedicated to addressing the practice of showing favoritism to those with means, while discriminating against those who are poor. James challenged this practice as a violation of the teaching in Scripture to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Apparently some people who were showing favoritism were smug in the fact that they had not committed bigger sins, like adultery or murder. James flatly stated, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (v. 10).
Do you have a sin scale? Do you think there are some really bad sins that are completely unacceptable, while there are some relatively minor sins that are no big deal? What does the Bible say? What adjustments do you need to make in your life?
In the second half of today’s reading, James addressed the controversy of faith vs. deeds. The opposite of legalism (stacks of manmade rules) is lawlessness (no moral standards at all). James is saying that authentic faith in Jesus leads to a life of good works in the world. He confidently said, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” Good works don’t result in salvation, but they do result from salvation.
Paul seems to agree, when he said in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
How is God calling your faith and actions to work together? How can you grow in your faith? How can you grow in your deeds?
Poem
Partial
I’m partial to spicy
It’s chocolate I like
If meat you are off’ring
I’d like a rare bite
My music? The classics
My colors? Earthtones
I’d rather you call me
Than text on the phone
I like full adventures
It’s boredom I hate
I’d rather eat Thai food
Than fast food that’s fake
I like cozy ev’nings
Play games, laugh out loud
I like to make music
The bigger the crowd
Take me to the movies
Or to ocean with sand
If we go a-hiking
Please do not have plan
I savor the journey
Destination can wait
To these things I’m partial
I hope you relate
But God says, “Be open!
There is more planned for you!
Don’t chose the familiar
Don’t judge by your view
Instead know I’m partial
To all you will meet
I love everyone who’ll
You meet on the street
There’ll be no distinctions
I don’t give a care
To your partial judgments
I’ve heirs everywhere!”
