The following is a devotional from One Day One Step.
James 2:14-17
What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has not deeds? Can such faith save him? 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 is not calling us to “do more” or “give more”; he is challenging us to confront our faith.
There are many who provide clothes and food that have no faith in God, so actions alone are not the purpose of faith, and instead reveal the focus of our faith. Too often I have wished well someone in need without doing more, and while I may not have had resources on my person to offer, my quick departure came less from my lack and more from my unwillingness to be a conduit of God’s Love.
In turning the other away I revealed that I did not believe God’s resources are limitless, or I did not trust He could work through me, or I was unsure the other deserved love… a love given to me freely while I was yet a sinner. If I have authentic faith in the God of the Bible, my actions must be based in the realities of that limitless, loving God who calls me to be His ambassador; I must be willing to love beyond words, and trust He can supply whatever is lacking.
- Ask the Spirit to reveal areas where you limit practical displays of love
- Invite the Spirit to provide an opportunity to love beyond words today
