Obedience

Tomorrow

/ Brian Stephens / Leave a comment

Great scripture here in James 4!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow! Enjoy this day as a gift from God and his beauty all around you. Find 3 things to be thankful for. I’ve always tried to do that when I want to get too far ahead of God and do it myself and operate in my limited strength instead of Gods amazing power!

Our life is a mist….the Bible reminds us……here for a little while (in terms of eternity) and then gone….God wants us to make our time count when we are here! Lord Jesus help us serve you with our actions and our words!

God gives is the definition of Sin here- “if anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them”. Ouch. That’s kinda close to home. Once God reveals himself and what he wants us to do it’s up to us to act and move….

I’m sure glad God is in control of my life and I will give him full surrender every day!!

Faith and Good Deeds

/ Brian Stephens / Leave a comment

This topic is always one that we can try to avoid or simply argue about.  But in the Book of James, the brother of Jesus, has very firm instructions for us and how we are supposed to live out our faith.  

He tells us that Faith alone without being accompanied by good deeds is “useless” and “dead”.  That means if we say we have Faith in Christ and we don’t do anything as an outflow of our faith, than its dead.  He says in James 2:15-17,

15Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16and 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?
17So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
 
Wouldn’t that look silly to actually see that happen?  You would probably be floored if you witnessed such an act.  “I will pray for you” is an easy answer.  But it doesn’t produce the fruit that God is looking for.  
 
People will notice and pay more careful attention to Followers of Christ if they see actions backing up words.  Thats what the world is looking for. “Show Me” what you mean by your faith.  And when it’s shown, its a beautiful act of love.  It demonstrates what James calls a “complete faith”.  That’s what we are all looking for!!