SCRIPTURE: James 2:18-19 ESV 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!
THOUGHT: Here’s a thought to chew on: demons have faith – it just doesn’t change their behavior.
I’ve always found it hard to comprehend why someone (or some thing) would believe in but not follow God – but it happens. James is trying to teach early believers that faith and works are both necessary to the life of the Christian. They are wound up together just like a brain and heart are necessary to hands and feet. It is not a life of sitting around pontificating on spiritual truths when God has given you work to do. This is very much in keeping with the teaching of Jesus, who told a parable about religious people trying to keep themselves “clean” by avoiding a victim of violent crime. Jesus’ question was who really loved God: The ones who passed by or the one willing to get dirty doing the work of God?
It’s a good question to wrestle with today as you walk out your talk.
PRAYER: I am willing to get into the messy, unorthodox, “unclean” circumstances of life, Father. Send me where you want me to go and may I be not just a brain or heart who believes, but a body who acts in a manner worthy of your name.
Amy released a full-length book in early 2021, Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. Maybe you’d like to check it out here.
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