Day 52: Do Something

James 2:14-17

 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 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? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Comments

God never intended faith to be mere intellectual assent, something that happens in our head, but never reaches our heart, our hands, our feet or any other part of our lives.

From the Bible’s point of view, to have faith, to live by faith, and to be faithful are interchangeable ways of describing the nature of our relationship with God.

Sometimes the above passage from James is thought to be at odds with the Apostle Paul’s insistence that “the righteous shall live by faith.” Paul, however, clearly believes our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus should shape the way we live, and James never suggests we can work our way into God’s favor.

Reflection

Have there been times in your life when the way you lived was out of sync with what you believed? How did that happen? What ultimately changed: the way you lived or what you believed?

What are some examples of the tangible way your faith has impacted your life, and particularly your relationship with others?

What is a recent example of living out your faith?

Prayer

Forgive me, Lord, for ever thinking that what I believe could possibly be separated from how I live. Grant that my faith may increase, and my faithfulness as well.