Faith Without Loving Works Is Just Lip Service

Faith and action work together. Like an apple tree, you can tell the tree apart from others by the apples that it produces. So it is and should be with Christians. You can and should be able to tell us apart by the fruit that we produce… by our works.

Scripture:
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” – James 2:26

Observation/Application: 
Some say, “Well I believe in God, and I attend church every week.” Hooray you get a gold star. The fact is if you truly loved Jesus you would do more. Those who truly love Jesus seek him first and want to do more. Those mature in faith understand that this principle. Faith without works is just lip service.

Image courtesy of: smkybear

Look at it from the standpoint of human relationships with your spouse or significant other. Do you think that they would be alright with seeing you once a week for an hour on Sunday? Surely not! We reinforce our love through our actions. We prove our love by making time for and doing things for those we love.

Imagine a spouse that tells you they love you but never does anything to show you. After work they make time to stop at the bar and visit friends, and get home late. On weekends they always have something else to do not around the house, often with their friends. And when they are home, they are not even present. To top it off, they never take you out for a date night, and make zero effort to spend time together just talking and listening. Eventually the neglected person is going to tell the other that they are just providing lip service.

Lip service is not enough. Let us activate our faith. Let us engage with others in the church body. Let us volunteer and serve. Let us become involved in something that is far greater than ourselves, advancing the kingdom of God. And let us breathe life into our faith, through our deeds.

Finally, let us never forget that we are not saved by our works, but only by God’s grace. And let our hearts be full of love, for without love we have gained nothing.

Make it a great day. I call you blessed.

#Putting-Actions-Behind-Our-Words

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Thank you for the Bible, and for your teachings in the book of James. We are so thankful that you gave us this living Word, and that you showed us The Way! You are the highway referenced in Isaiah 35, the Way of Holiness, where only the redeemed will walk. Thank you for the gladness and joy that you promise on this road. We receive you and all of your Promise this morning. Guide our every step, our every Word, our every breath. We give you all the honor and glory and praise, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Today’s full reading: Isaiah 32-35; James 2

Scripture References From Today’s Reflection: 

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30
• “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:3
• “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20
• “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.” – Isaiah 35:8

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