OCTOBER 31 READING…JAMES 2
The ground at the foot of the cross is wonderfully level, and it should be that way in the church. No one should ever take preeminence in the church. The church should never be involved in partiality of one group over another for any reason, especially when we are dealing with people of different social economic status. The church should always reflect the heart and the priority of its Lord, Jesus. The way Jesus treated people is the way we in the church ought to treat people. There is no one in the church more important to anyone else. We should give the same attention to all within the body of Christ. If we recognize anyone, we should recognize everyone. There is no room this side of heaven for favoritism of certain groups. God sees, and God knows, what is going on. Faith that shows partiality is not biblical faith. It is worldly and carnal, it is sinful, and it actually blasphemes the Name of our Lord. It gives the world the wrong testimony of what the church is supposed to be, and stands in the way of reaching the world for Christ. The church ought to made up of the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless, the famous and the nobodies, and of every ethnic group…all loving, edifying, supporting, and encouraging one another. We can learn much from that little song we all learn in our Sunday School class as children, “Red, yellow, black, and white…they are precious in His sight.” And if we are to live our faith, they all will be precious in our sight also.
Faith looks more like denim overalls than it does like a silk suit. Faith has dirt under its nails, and callouses on its hands. Faith has a sore back, and sweat on its brow. Faith rests well at night, as it has had a good day’s work. Faith is not lazy, it always produces work. Faith is not theoretical, it is practical. Faith does not talk about trust, faith trusts. Faith changes our lives, and impacts the life of others. Faith cannot remain on the pages of Scripture, it must be taken off the page and lived.
James reminds us that our faith is more than a statement of belief. Our faith is to touch other in need and make a difference. When we were saved the Lord did not immediately take us home to heaven. He left us here, gave us His Spirit and His Word, for a purpose. We as believers make up His church, and as His church we are to carry on His ministry in this world. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12) Genuine biblical faith has always been faith that does the work of God. We are able to do this work as witnesses of Christ because the Holy Spirit lives in us doing God’s work through us. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” (Acts 1:8) Empowered by the Holy Spirit our witness is both heard and seen. As a matter of fact, that which is heard is given credence by what is seen. Our expression of faith must have works to give the expression validity. It is never enough to tell someone in need to just be blessed. We are called to meet their need in Christ Jesus. Faith that does not touch others with the life changing power of Christ is dead faith. Faith that does not meet needs is a dead faith. Faith that is not taken of the pages of Scripture and lived is a dead faith. We are called to a living faith in Christ, one that touches eternity and changes the world.
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TOMORROW’S READING…JAMES 3
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