Weekly Memory Verse:
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."
John 14:23 (TNIV)
Meditation Thought:
Disobeying is a sign of foolishness and immaturity. In what areas do I need to work on instant obedience?
Today's Reading - James 2:14-26 (NCV) Choose another translation
My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person, "God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat," but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing. In the same way, faith by itself—that does nothing—is dead.
Someone might say, "You have faith, but I have deeds." Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear.
You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing? Abraham, our ancestor, was made right with God by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. So you see that Abraham's faith and the things he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did. This shows the full meaning of the Scripture that says: "Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham's faith, and that faith made him right with God." And Abraham was called God's friend. So you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only.
Another example is Rahab, a prostitute, who was made right with God by something she did. She welcomed the spies into her home and helped them escape by a different road.
Just as a person's body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead!
(Today's reading came from the New Century Version)
2 comments:
"Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham's faith, and that faith made him right with God." And Abraham was called God's friend.
That's what I'd like people to read about me someday. Even if its my epitaph.
I'm always amazed by Abraham's faith. Can you imagine what was going through his mind and heart? I like to think I have great faith, but if put in a situation such as his, I'm not sure if I could immediately obey.
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