What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? (James 2:14)
Expanded Passage: James 2:14-17
The fob for the gym had hung in the entryway for many months, never moving. At first it was a friendly reminder, but over time it became invisible as I repeatedly ignored it. Likewise, the healthy meal planner I had purchased gathered dust. While I stated often to myself and to others that I wanted to take hold of my health and get more fit, my actions simply didn’t match my words. And I grew even less healthy than before.
The apostle James wrote a letter of instruction and encouragement to the scattered believers and showed a clear contrast between words and action. He referred to the many who claimed to have faith in Christ but showed no outward evidence by the way they lived. While James was not suggesting that Christians were saved by their works, he was making plain that those who are saved by their faith in Jesus begin to desire to obey the Lord, and they grow in a natural outflow of actions that resemble the heart of God.
Salvation through faith in Jesus enacts a miracle that sets us on a path to transform and become more like Christ. The everyday life of the faith-filled believer will come to look very different than it did before.
I needed a similar miracle to happen inside of me to help me just pick up the key.
Assess whether the actions you take match the faith you profess.
Elizabeth Rhyno is a wife and mom, life and faith coach, wellness entrepreneur, and worship pastor. She is a champion for helping people let joy loose by uncovering their God-designed purpose.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
