James 2:14-17-"What good is it, dear brothers and sister, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no clothing, and you say, 'Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well'--but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is DEAD and useless."This Scripture used to confuse me. 'Faith by itself isn't enough' it says. What??? Didn't the Bible just tell us that all we need is faith to be saved? Yes, it did. To understand this passage, you have to read it in context. It also says, 'What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?' Here are three key things I think this verse is saying, and that God is leading me to share:
1. Ask yourself, 'Can the people around me see that I have faith in Jesus by the way I live my life?' Or similarly, 'Does my life look any different now than when I wasn't saved?' If the answer is yes, most definitely, you can move on to number 3. If the answer is no, read number 2. (There is only yes and no. There is no I don't know, maybe, or I guess so)
2. If the answer to those questions is no, than you need to have a serious heart check. When you sin, do you feel bad about it? Does something inside of you prompt you to change your behavior? If you do, change your behavior by reading and following God's Word, as well as following the prompts in your heart. Before long, I promise your life will look different! If not, you either need to ask God to help you out of that sin, or accept His forgiveness and ask the Holy Ghost into your heart. He can change you for the better!!! Want to be saved, but don't know how? Check out Romans 10:9-10.
3. When your life looks different than other people's lives, they notice. One great thing about being saved is that God can help you to show His love to others, and bring them to Christ. I challenge you today to LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH, even when it's hard, and even when you might get made fun of for it. People may ask you why you act differently, and God might use you as a tool to save someone else. Isn't that neat? 'What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?'
"Believe like a Jesus Freak. Pray like a Jesus Freak. Worship Like a Jesus Freak. Study like a Jesus Freak. Love like a Jesus Freak. Stand like a Jesus Freak. Forgive like a Jesus Freak. Rejoice like a Jesus Freak. Serve like a Jesus Freak. Witness like a Jesus Freak."-Live Like a Jesus Freak by dc Talk.
John 8:31-32-"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Philippians 1:6-"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
Romans 8:38-"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries for tomorrow--not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love."
Keep Measuring Up! You know the TRUTH, so live it! Don't let your life look like an empty glass to others, but show them how full you are in Christ! :) You are loved.
-Jenna Hampton
with Live Like a Jesus Freak, a picture from Google, and a whole lot of prayer!!!
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