Friday, June 23, 2017

June 24, 2017

"So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. But someone may well argue, “You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can’t prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act.” Are there still some among you who hold that “only believing” is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too—so strongly that they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that “believing” is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith." James 2:17-20

Complete this sentence. "If you do what you've always done you will get what _________________."

Try this one, "To do what you have always done and expect a different result is  the definition of __________.

Do you agree with those two sentences?

Okay, then, when you put those two pieces of conventional wisdom together,  I can make a case that bad habits that are not addressed have the potential to drive you crazy. 

Right?

And, when your heart believes one thing while your habits show something different you are at least conflicted and maybe crazy.

No one wants to be crazy and those who are don't want to admit it.

But the point is this, if you don't like how your life is going you must change some habits. It isn't easy but it is necessary.

Habits become very comfortable because you don't have to think about them. They have become ingrained patterns of behavior and by nature we are lazy.

Changing a habit is hard because you DO have to think about it. You have to consciously and willfully take an action that is unnatural and uncomfortable. You also have to change a thought pattern because thoughts precede actions.

So, wanting a better outcome for your life without changing any habits is crazy. But changing habits of behavior and thinking can make you feel like you're crazy.

To be happy and content in life your heart and your habits must match. Your actions must be consistent with your beliefs.

That is the point James is making in this Scripture. If God has changed your heart then you must change your habits to match up with your new nature. 

Just as it takes the power of God's Holy Spirit through the grace of Jesus to transform your sinful nature so it will also take nothing less than the power of God to help you change your habits.

God calls you to have a holy heart. And He calls you to also form holy habits. 

It's crazy to think you can have a holy heart but not have holy habits.

It's crazy to think you can have holy habits without having a holy heart.

It's crazy to think you can change either your heart or your habits without the help of God.

It's crazy to think He can't do it and it is even crazier not to ask Him.

Don't be crazy. Be conformed by the power of God in your heart and it your habits.