A Study Through the Bible: James 2:14-26

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My Prayer

Lord, Thank You for teaching me how to love others. Thank You for loving me and setting that perfect example. Reading Your Word is giving me patience with my children. It is reminding me to show love in all I do. Thank You so much for Your guidelines and examples. Speak to me today. Amen.

Scripture

James 2:14-26

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]? ²¹ Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e] and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (NIV)

Application

When I have faith, it should be evident in how I live my life. God wants me to have faith in Him, but to also do good deeds. We cannot have one without the other.

Wow. I can see exactly how God is speaking to me here. I can claim all day long to have faith in God for our future, but until my actions and deeds match, it does no good. I need to put my trust in Him truly and let that trust and faith overflow into how I live my life. Rather than wait and wonder “patiently,” I need to have faith and continue doing what He has called me to now.

My actions should naturally reflect that faith I have in Christ and what He is going to do in us. Sometimes I stress and worry, or worse, stop working for Him just waiting, but He wants me to continue His work. He called me to serve, now and forever. That doesn’t change because life may be changing. My faith in Him should be obvious in my actions. I continue to do His work as passionately as ever while I wait for direction.

Closing Prayer

Sweet Jesus, You are so amazing. Thank You for this Word today. I cannot simply claim faith in You and then stop Your work. You have called us to serve, and we will continue to serve.

Also, I cannot just continue in good deeds and work, but have no faith. My actions must be a result of that faith. Thank You that You are a God I can put my trust in. You have never failed us, and You never will. Thank You for reminding me and changing me. Amen.