Have you ever met someone who was all talk and no action?  This is particularly troubling when it comes to our faith life.  When you see someone who talks about faith but doesn’t seem to live it out it can be a big turn off.  Our actions don’t earn us anything when it comes to our relationship with God but they certainly are evidence that it exists.  James talks about this a lot.  Let’s look at his words in chapter 2. 

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.

Thinking or knowing that something is true and living its out are two distinct things.  James knows that we are truly only saved by grace and not by any works that we can do.  He simply is saying that real faith or real love results in action.  What if you said over and over how much you loved your spouse but never lived out that love?  How would that relationship be?  While how we live does not change our status or relationship with God. James is telling us that our relationship with God should be evidenced by how we live.  Jesus showed us how to live as we follow Him.  He lived a life of love and calls us to do the very same.  I pray that through His strength we might all live the kind of life that would be filled with sharing His great love with others.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave