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In review, James has been speaking and encouraging the believer rather than trying to proclaim the gospel message to nonbelievers. So, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's son this message is for you!
1st week- Statement to the believer that your life will be polka dotted with trials. You can count on it!
2nd week- We talked about the fact that those trials will be beneficial to our character and be used in the lives of those around us. Do not let testing be time to fall into sin.
3rd week- We saw how important Gods Word is for our daily life.
Last week- We were encouraged to not be arrogant in our faith and to love everyone, never showing personal favoritism.
This week our faith is to lead us to action!
The Bible does tell us that faith in Jesus Christ leads us to Heaven. As we grow in that faith, our life will be fuller if we know the dimension Jesus intends for us. James 2:14, tells us that, as Christians, we are not be people that have faith and just sit still.
Last week, we talked about the man that looks in the mirror, is disheveled and does nothing about it. This man does not have a heart for God. I shared with the group that sometimes there is a man that looks in the mirror, doesn't like what he sees but can't do anything about it. Example-ME today! I am a creme fanatic and and have cremes for the dark circles under my eyes, to lift my skin...you name it. I have a creme for it. Sometimes, I even make cremes. Unfortunately, today, I was out of my cremes and I was having one of those "disheveled" days and couldn't do anything about it. BUT, I DO have a heart for God. Just wanted to make sure we don't mistake the two. :)
Verse 22 has another formula for us: Faith + Works = Faith made perfect.
Several years ago, there was a lady in a church where I taught a Bible Study that always sat in a room and studied the Bible. She would write everything she learned on notecards and study, study, study. Because of her head knowledge, she was asked to lead quite a few things but always declined. Unfortunately, several years later, she drifted away. What she knew in her head did not change her heart. Faith is not about knowledge. It is a head, heart and feet matter!
Faith only=empty and stagnant. REMEMBER: Even the demons believe and tremble!
Works only=empty b/c it is not the whole picture of a faith perfected (James 2:22)
The passage we read this week mentions the word "dead" twice in reference to faith only and/or works only. Dead=Ineffective! This makes me think of the saying, "what you do speaks so loud I can not hear what you say. "
So, in other words faith works (and I'm not talking "busy" work). You must let what you know in your mind (that Jesus died for you and when you came to Him you became a new person), what you have experienced in your heart (the way you view life now versus how you used to look at it), and let it set your feet in motion (responding to the needs around you as God prompts you).
It is not enough to just go about works or good deeds, we need to pray that God take our every moment to lead us to the situations where He wants us placed and how He wants us to be obedient. That will be an effective life and work.
The person that James uses as an example of faith and obedience is Abraham. In your homework, you read Genesis 22 and listed the things this passage said made Abraham a friend of God.
Here are a few things that the ladies shouted out:
- He responded to what God told him.
- He didn't procrastinate
- He was available.
- He was willing.
- He didn't complain.
- He didn't go to someone else to ask for their interpretation (LOVE this one).
- He wasn't "above" the test or too good.
- He was at peace.
- He didn't show anger.
- He knew when God spoke because he had a personal relationship with Him.
- Did what God said.
- God saw His faithfulness.
- He recieved reward and blessing.
- He was a man of faith - acted in faith - God rewarded his faith.
- He made himself available.
- He was obedient.
- He could not possibly see what was going to save him or his son.
1. Works that stem from obedience-These works are a result of a mind obedient to God. An example would be when we do something that God specifically directed us to do.
2. Works of a godly life- This is the act of of getting rid of ungodliness and all filth in our lifes. It is to live a life of integrity and morality.
3. Works toward others.
Until next week, let your faith transform your heart and keep your feet moving! I am praying for you.
Here is your homework for week 6.
Love,
Glenda
Glenda
1 comment:
Love joining over the blog over the past two weeks! Thanks for all your hard work to make this happen. Such a treat when you have to miss to still have fellowship here!
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