Day 6 - Is Your Faith Alive?

Posted by Grady Dycus

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.                            (James 2:18 NKJV)

Having faith is not merely believing something through your intellect. James said it best in James 2:19:  “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!”  Faith is an act of obedience to the Lord, it requires an action, although our salvation is not based on works (Ephesians 2:9:  “…not of works, lest anyone should boast.). In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to offer Isaac his son on the altar, and Abraham was obedient because his faith was working together with his works.  James’ emphasis is that faith is not living unless it is outwardly shown and demonstrated.  The point James is making is illustrated well in James 2:15-16:  “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

We are presented with endless opportunities to display our faith.  Is there someone who has hurt you that you need to forgive?  Is there someone whom you have hurt that you need ask for their forgiveness?  Is there a lost friend or co-worker that you need to share the gospel with?  Is there a ministry within the church where God is asking you to serve where you feel inadequate?  Ultimately, is the Father asking you to do something that is outside of your comfort zone that will require your faith working together with your works?

PRAYER:  “Father thank you for saving me by grace through faith and not by my works, so I have no reason for boasting in my salvation.  It is a gift that you have given to me. But Father, I ask that you would help me to see the opportunities all around me that will allow me to display the faith that is within me. I want to love you and love others more, and I want to be more obedient to you when you ask me to do something. To you be all of the glory, honor and praise.  In Jesus name, Amen!”

POINT TO PONDER:  Authentic faith is an active faith.