July 10, 2010

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2: 20-26

James uses two very disparate examples to illustrate the same truth and then summarizes with a significant statement that "deeds are the spirit of faith".

Let's examine the two examples: Abraham, the hero and patriarch of all Jews. The words "Abraham" and "faith" are almost interchangeable! Every Jew wanted their boys to grow up and be like Abraham. No problem there!

But Rahab? A prostitute? What is she doing in the same sentence with an icon like Abraham?

There is one huge common denominator! FAITH! Each of them acted in a way that proved their faith in God. Each of them put something at risk. Abraham risk the very future of the legacy God had promised him and Rahab risked her life!

In addition, I think James is communicating the vital truth that faith is a growing and ongoing experience. Abraham had been on a long faith journey with God. He had walked with God and followed God for decades. He had demonstrated his faith time after time. The crowning achievement of his faith was his son, Isaac. It had taken a series of faith decisions to receive this son of promise. Now God tested his faith once more by asking him to sacrifice this precious son. This was no entry level faith! This is faith 501 or 601! But Abraham passed the test!

In contrast, there was Rahab. While there is some dispute over the exact nature of her profession, some say prostitute, some say innkeeper, and some say she ran a restaurant. But of no dispute is her kindness to the Israelite spies that preserved their lives and allowed them to complete their crucial mission into Jericho. She would have been dragged into the street and publicly executed had she been discovered hiding the spies. It was risky what she did but she understood it was her chance at salvation and she took it.

As far as we can tell, this was her intial act of faith. This was Faith 101 and she passed with flying colors. You can be sure their were many other tests to follow.

So in Rahab we have demonstrated that we enter into salvation by an act of faith. And in Abraham we learn that faith is always being tested. Our faith grows as the tests grow because the spirit of faith is our obedient actions!

Whether you are at the Rahab level or the Abraham level there will never be a time when faith is easy or unnecessary! You please God because He has become pleasing to you!

July 9, 2010

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. " James 2:19

This is a chilling thought. Think about what James is saying here - you could have a "devil" of a faith!

Obviously, faith is much more than just believing! Faith is acting on what you believe, which is how the devils got to be devils! They knew Who God was and what God wanted and disobeyed Him. That is why they are "shuddering" now! They are fully aware of the terror that awaits them.

James is making the point that faith is ultimately revealed by what you do not by what you say! Your works reveal the quality and the validity of your faith. If you really understand Who God is then you will obey Him and honor him in your actions and decisions. If you, like the devils, know Who He is and still disobey Him that is the worst sort of sin!

This revelation underscores the absolute necessity of repentance and trusting God to transform your heart and mind. The easiest way to have genuine faith is to get real with God and receive His Spirit into your life. If you could believe yourself into faith you would not need God. You can't! Don't try!

Faith arises out of the work of grace that God wants to do in your heart and mind. Faith grows from the intial act of faith - trusting Christ for your salvation. That is precisely what Paul means when he declares, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Real faith is displayed in real godliness! That is the power of faith. That is why faith matters so much. You either trust - or you tremble.....

July 8, 2010

"But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." James 2:18

Talk is cheap!

Anyone can say anything! But unless you can back up your claims with action your words are empty.

I could say that I can beat Tiger Woods in golf, but until I actually get it done, my words would be empty and my claims foolish.

Saying that I could slam dunk a basketball over LaBron James would be a delirious claim I could never substantiate. Until I would do it no one would believe it.

The writer of Hebrews stated, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

Certainly, faith has an invisible component, but it also has a tangible aspect. Faith is a spiritual connection with an invisible God that results in visible and tangible evidence. Faith does not deal in wild or fanciful claims. Faith is not delusional.

Real faith, the faith that James talks about, makes an invisible God believable by the visible actions and attitudes that it transforms. When a man who once was a degenerate alcoholic and womanizer suddenly becomes sober and chaste, that indicates something substantial happened. What is behind this incredible transformation? Faith! You cannot doubt this man's faith because his life has dramatically changed.

Faith is a connection between two realities - an unseen spiritual reality and a visible physical reality. While faith originates in the unseen world it is expressed and validated in the realm of sight and sound.

What you think about faith and God are important. What you feel about God matters. But according to James, what really matters is what we do. That is what people see and what people see is what is real to them.

Making faith real - making God believable - is one of the things we are called to do as Christians.

How about you?

Are you talking a good game but not really delivering with the behavior and attitudes? Or is your life indisputable evidence becaue of your deeds, your attitudes, and actions?

Believers are to make faith believable by what they do!

July 7, 2010

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:15-17

Good intentions are nice! They are certainly better than evil intentions. But the fact is it really doesn't matter in the end because when you are talking about intentions it really doesn't matter what you intend to do it nothing ever happens! Good intentions make a bad religion.

Faith is defined by actions! That is James' whole point for writing his book! Real faith results in real acts of kindness. Good intentions or kind thoughts do not meet the needs of hungry people or those needing clothing.

How long would your job last if you called into your boss tomorrow to inform him that you are not coming to work but you will stay home and think about what needs to be done? You will feel kindly toward him and your fellow employees, but you won't actually show up at the office.

I think you know the answer to that!

This is akin to those who tell their pastors, "I won't be there Sunday for church - but I will be there in spirit!"

I know one pastor who, when building his new church building, added a "spirit gallery" to his sanctuary for those who only "come in spirit".

One more thought on this since it is fairly obvious in it's foolishness. But what if God would have just thought about sending Jesus to redeem the world? Where would we be? And what if Jesus had come but once He got here just thought about dying on the cross and harbored good intentions of dying on the cross - but never surrendered to the cross?

God has true faith! Jesus modeled true faith! They deliver on their promises and do what they intend to do!

I'm sure you are familiar with the old saying, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." You only have to read these verses to see the truth of that statement.

It is equally true that the road to heaven is paved with obedient actions - aka - faith!

Which road are you on?

July 6, 2010

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" James 2:14

This is one of the key verses for the book of James. It is where I got the title for my series, "Faith Works Out".

Of course, faith is an intangible - you cannot see it. It has to be evidenced by actions. Faith arises out of a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. How do others know that I have been made right with God and received His righteousness. I can tell them, but the real evidence is when I show them. If I have been made righteous then that should be proven by my life and by the right actions and right decisions demonstrated by how I live.

For instance, you can believe that you need groceries. You have no food in the house and you are growing more hungry by the moment and the supermarket is just down the street. What do you do? You can sit there and hope you get around to going to the store. Or, you can talk about going to the store. Or, you can get out and actually go to the store!

Which one of those shows evidence of true hunger?

Obviously, the answer is the last one - getting up and going to the store. Your desire evidenced itself in actions.

In Hebrews 11 there is an honored list of people who are mentioned because of their exceptional deeds they accomplished through their faith.

Abraham didn't just think about leaving his home and his family to follow God - He got up and packed his stuff, took his wife and their servants and headed out! That's faith!

Noah didn't just set around and think about how it should be built or how niv - he got to work and began building it. He evidenced His faith by stepping out and working diligently everyday pounding nails and sawing boards.

Doing good will not save your soul. But, if you have had a supernatural life-changing faith experience with God through Christ that will show by how you act or what you do. You have a better understanding of what faith is and how it operates when you can actually see it lived out!

Is faith worked out in your life?

July 5, 2010

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34

Much is wrong with America but - there is plenty right about America, too! In fact, I contend that there is nothing wrong with America that a good dose of righteousness couldn't fix.

Do you believe that?

Do you still hold out hope for America?

I do!

I believe there is hope for America because I believe in a God of hope and I still believe in the people of America - like you!

What will restore the greatness of America? To answer that you must remember what it was that first made America great - RIGHTEOUSNESS! Yes, righteousness! That means knowing what is right and doing what is right and doing your best to stand against wrong.

If you do that, and if I do that and if we each get a few of our best friends to do that, don't you think that will make a difference?

Indeed, it will! That is how our nation got started! 56 men who were seriously committed to righteousness and even more committed to freedom came together to commit to each other and a bold new idea - a nation founded upon Biblical principles that would honor God!

Those 56 men already had their fortunes. They were wealthy people who were comfortable and secure with possessions and land. But their passion for righteousness overcame their personal interest and coming together they pledged to one another their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. 52 of these 56 signers were righteous men who professed Christ as their Lord. They proved that it doesn't take a lot of people or powerful people to change the moral tide of a nation. It just takes fully committed people who love righeousness more than life.

I urge you not to underestimate the power of your influence. Your example matters! Your words matter!

There is still a lot that is right about America. But the things that are wrong with America are killing us!

If you want to get America right, begin with you! And then use your influence and impact for good! Let's fix America one person at a time!

July 4, 2010

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34

I want you to think about something.

How much do you owe to the righteousness of other people? How has your life been enriched because other people chose to obey God and live righteously?

It is hard to measure, but let me drop a few names: Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joseph, David, Job, Daniel, Mary, John the Baptist, and the Disciples - and most of all, Jesus! These righteous and faithful people have touched your life.

Each of these people answered the call of God to tackle a task He had in mind for them to accomplish. Every one of these I mentioned obeyed God and trusted Him to enable them to accomplish. God worked through them to accomplish His desired will.

These Bible heroes allowed God to work through them because they chose to do the right things.
As God's Kingdom came and as His will was done through them, you benefited.

What if these great people had chosen to do like you often do - waited for someone else to do the right thing? Where would you be today?

Think about the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. They took a tremendous risk when they pledged to each other their "lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" believing that fighting for their freedom was the right thing for them. What if they would have decided to sit and wait for someone else to do it? I doubt if we would be celebrating Independence Day.

Righteousness exalts those who do the right thing. Not those who wait for others to do it! Righteousness delayed is a sin known as disobedience!