Reading: James 2
My Verse: "What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?" (2:14))
The answer to Jame's rhetorical question here is, of course, no. He continues this theme of our faith being reflected in our lives. Does my faith shine through me? Do I act it out in my day to day life?
Faith as defined in Hebrews 11:1 is. "Now faith is the assurance of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.]."
The dictionary on my ipad says of faith:
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing
2. belief that is not based on proof
3. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement , etc.
4. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promises, oath, allegiance, etc.
I especially like three and four here as they point out my part in faith. For I do have a part - every day! I am a professed Christian, a child of You, Lord God. But each day I need to act on this faith that I have put in You. Each day I need to make that decision to look to You as my guide in all that I do.
James makes us face up to this daily decision with his question. "What good is it . . . if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"
There is a fine line here. I cannot do 'works' on my own, of my own strength - that is a dead end. I cannot claim to have 'faith' but have no visible signs of that faith in my life. I would only be deceiving myself. I would not be observing my obligation of loyalty as stated in definition number four.
It goes back to being genuine. I cannot pretend to be something I am not. If I truly belong to You, Lord God, You will transform me to be all that You mean for me to be. I must also trust that there are no accidents with You. As Your child You keep and guard over my every step, every moment of my life. I really like how Tozer states this.
"The man of faith may live in the absolute assurance that his steps are ordered by the Lord. For him, misfortune is outside the bounds of possibility. He cannot be torn from this earth one hour ahead of the time which God has appointed, and he cannot be detained on earth one moment after God is done with him here. He is not a waif of the wide world, a foundling of time and space, but a saint of the Lord and the darling of His particular care."
Thank You, Lord God. How I need constant reassurance to build my faith so that I can act (live) it out in my life. I am so blessed to belong to You.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?" (2:14))
The answer to Jame's rhetorical question here is, of course, no. He continues this theme of our faith being reflected in our lives. Does my faith shine through me? Do I act it out in my day to day life?
Faith as defined in Hebrews 11:1 is. "Now faith is the assurance of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.]."
The dictionary on my ipad says of faith:
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing
2. belief that is not based on proof
3. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement , etc.
4. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promises, oath, allegiance, etc.
I especially like three and four here as they point out my part in faith. For I do have a part - every day! I am a professed Christian, a child of You, Lord God. But each day I need to act on this faith that I have put in You. Each day I need to make that decision to look to You as my guide in all that I do.
James makes us face up to this daily decision with his question. "What good is it . . . if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"
There is a fine line here. I cannot do 'works' on my own, of my own strength - that is a dead end. I cannot claim to have 'faith' but have no visible signs of that faith in my life. I would only be deceiving myself. I would not be observing my obligation of loyalty as stated in definition number four.
It goes back to being genuine. I cannot pretend to be something I am not. If I truly belong to You, Lord God, You will transform me to be all that You mean for me to be. I must also trust that there are no accidents with You. As Your child You keep and guard over my every step, every moment of my life. I really like how Tozer states this.
"The man of faith may live in the absolute assurance that his steps are ordered by the Lord. For him, misfortune is outside the bounds of possibility. He cannot be torn from this earth one hour ahead of the time which God has appointed, and he cannot be detained on earth one moment after God is done with him here. He is not a waif of the wide world, a foundling of time and space, but a saint of the Lord and the darling of His particular care."
Thank You, Lord God. How I need constant reassurance to build my faith so that I can act (live) it out in my life. I am so blessed to belong to You.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
No comments:
Post a Comment