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"What's in a Word?" by Shawna Songer Gaines
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.
18 But someone will say that you have faith and I have actions. Show me this faith of yours without the actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions! 19 You believe that “God is one”?[James 2:19 Deuteronomy 6:4] Good for you! The demons believe it too — the thought makes them shudder with fear!
20 But, foolish fellow, do you want to be shown that such “faith” apart from actions is barren? 21 Wasn’t Avraham avinu declared righteous because of actions when he offered up his son Yitz’chak on the altar? 22 You see that his faith worked with his actions; by the actions the faith was made complete; 23 and the passage of the Tanakh was fulfilled which says, “Avraham had faith in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness.”[James 2:23 Genesis 15:6] He was even called God’s friend.[James 2:23 Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7] 24 You see that a person is declared righteous because of actions and not because of faith alone.
25 Likewise, wasn’t Rachav the prostitute also declared righteous because of actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another route? 26 Indeed, just as the body without a spirit is dead, so too faith without actions is dead.
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My son has never asked me if I love him. I tell him constantly but his three-year-old mind has a limited grasp on words like “love.” Still, he knows I love him when I wipe his face, blow on his hot chicken soup, or read his favorite book as I tuck him into bed. He knows that I love him with a knowledge that is so much deeper than words can describe.
If I turned him away when he needed a hug, withheld food when he was hungry, left him dirty and cold with no soft place to call a bed, but shouted “I love you” over the sound of his crying, what might he believe love to be?
Love is a word much like faith. Love and faith cannot be learned in a book or given in a contract. We learn it as we live it and see it.
If we confess faith in Christ, but fail to love, serve and be given away for the sake of Christ, what should the world believe faith to be? Our words of faith and love for Christ ought to merely echo our service to the hungry, cold, dirty, lonely, naked children of God.
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Hymn for Today: "Lead On, O King Eternal" by Ernest W. Shurtleff
1. Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
thy grace has made us strong;
and now, O King eternal,
we lift our battle song.
2. Lead on, O King eternal,
till sin's fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords loud clashing,
nor roll of stirring drums;
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes.
3. Lead on, O King eternal,
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where'er thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o'er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.
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Thought of the Day: 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?
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Please Pray: For the in Africa who minister to the victims of HIV and AIDS and their families.
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Please Pray: For the in Africa who minister to the victims of HIV and AIDS and their families.
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