Daily Scripture: James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but has no actions to prove it? Is such “faith” able to save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, 16 and someone says to him, “Shalom! Keep warm and eat hearty!” without giving him what he needs, what good does it do? 17 Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead.
26 Indeed, just as the body without a spirit is dead, so too faith without actions is dead.
Reflection Questions:
Some Christians misread “salvation by faith” as meaning we are indifferent to good works. James called his readers to be doers of the word, not just hearers. True faith, he said, produces actions that honor God and bless others. His strong words form the foundation for Resurrection’s work to lift up others, in Malawi, in specific disaster areas, or in our inner city partner schools.
Loving Lord, you accept me as your child, and you daily reshape the way I live as I respond to your love. Let my works always find their source in you, and bring you glory. Amen.Insights from Janelle Gregory
Reflection Questions:
Some Christians misread “salvation by faith” as meaning we are indifferent to good works. James called his readers to be doers of the word, not just hearers. True faith, he said, produces actions that honor God and bless others. His strong words form the foundation for Resurrection’s work to lift up others, in Malawi, in specific disaster areas, or in our inner city partner schools.
- James vividly pointed out the flaw in thinking that genuine faith could ever be limited to kindly thoughts. “Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, ‘Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!’? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs?” Whose example of living faith drew you to a faith that includes your heart and your hands as well as your head?
- Notice that James didn’t talk about a good “balance” between faith and works, as though we need a 50-50 mix of the two. We need 100% of both—our works need to grow out of our faith, as a grateful response to God’s gracious acceptance of us. What are some of the actions, the works, which you have seen grow in your life as you have responded to God’s grace?
Loving Lord, you accept me as your child, and you daily reshape the way I live as I respond to your love. Let my works always find their source in you, and bring you glory. Amen.Insights from Janelle Gregory
Janelle Gregory serves on the Resurrection staff as a Human Resources Specialist.
In the classrooms of my hometown church, I can vividly picture this image of Jesus at the door.
Once I got past waiting for the punch line to the knock-knock joke, this became the essence of being a Christian – “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” Jesus knocks. You answer. End of story. You have to end the story there, because if you don’t, it gets really awkward with both of you just standing in a doorway.
While I don’t want to discount the importance of simply answering the door, this image just brushes the surface of what it means to be a part of the grandiose story of God’s love for this world.
Being a Christian is about diving into the river of grace, being washed and made whole through the redemption of a Savior. And this Savior invites us into his movement, the journey of “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Our lives should be viewed through the “as it is in heaven” perspective as we join Jesus on his mission. So how can our work-life be “as it is in heaven?” How do we treat our families “as it is in heaven?” What would it look like for our communities to be “as it is in heaven?” How can we educate children in our urban core so they may live “as it is in heaven?” What about the annoying lady in the check-out line? Can we treat her “as it is in heaven?” What about the child in a third-world country lacking access to clean water? Can we bring “as it is in heaven” to him too?
These are the choices we make, both in our day-to-day living and in our intentional serving. It’s using our gifts and resources and getting out of our comfort zones. Once we open the door, Jesus comes in. But he comes in to invite us out.
Just like most things in our lives, it’s the first step that is the most difficult – so do it now. There is no waiting until the opportunity arises. The opportunities are here and they are abundant.
If you call Church of the Resurrection your home, I encourage you to check out these sites for more information on practical ways to join in Jesus’ mission in Kansas City and beyond:
Local Impact Opportunities
Global Impact Opportunities
Today is the day to join Jesus on the journey. With his help, I truly believe that we can transform this world to be more like “as it is in heaven.”
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
In the classrooms of my hometown church, I can vividly picture this image of Jesus at the door.
Once I got past waiting for the punch line to the knock-knock joke, this became the essence of being a Christian – “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” Jesus knocks. You answer. End of story. You have to end the story there, because if you don’t, it gets really awkward with both of you just standing in a doorway.
While I don’t want to discount the importance of simply answering the door, this image just brushes the surface of what it means to be a part of the grandiose story of God’s love for this world.
Being a Christian is about diving into the river of grace, being washed and made whole through the redemption of a Savior. And this Savior invites us into his movement, the journey of “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Our lives should be viewed through the “as it is in heaven” perspective as we join Jesus on his mission. So how can our work-life be “as it is in heaven?” How do we treat our families “as it is in heaven?” What would it look like for our communities to be “as it is in heaven?” How can we educate children in our urban core so they may live “as it is in heaven?” What about the annoying lady in the check-out line? Can we treat her “as it is in heaven?” What about the child in a third-world country lacking access to clean water? Can we bring “as it is in heaven” to him too?
These are the choices we make, both in our day-to-day living and in our intentional serving. It’s using our gifts and resources and getting out of our comfort zones. Once we open the door, Jesus comes in. But he comes in to invite us out.
Just like most things in our lives, it’s the first step that is the most difficult – so do it now. There is no waiting until the opportunity arises. The opportunities are here and they are abundant.
If you call Church of the Resurrection your home, I encourage you to check out these sites for more information on practical ways to join in Jesus’ mission in Kansas City and beyond:
Local Impact Opportunities
Global Impact Opportunities
Today is the day to join Jesus on the journey. With his help, I truly believe that we can transform this world to be more like “as it is in heaven.”
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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