FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS NONPRODUCTIVE

“Thus also faith by itself, it if does not have works, is dead.”—James 2:17

 

I read a cartoon in a magazine that depicted a house surrounded by flooding water and a man sitting on top of the roof.  He was praying for God to save him.  A man came by in a row boat; he told the man on the roof to jump in, but the man replied that He did not need to be rescued because God was going to rescue him.  The water kept rising until it was nearly up to the roof.  A helicopter came and lowered a basket for him to get into; however, again the man told the pilot that he did not need to be rescued because God would.  The next scene showed the man in heaven talking to God; he said, “I prayed for you to save me, why didn’t you?”  God replied, “I did; I sent a row boat and a helicopter.” 

 

Although the message in the cartoon was meant to evoke humor, it carries a powerful message, which is that faith requires action.  God has already done His part; we must do our part.  This is why we always tell people to do what they could not do before when we pray for their healing.  You will act on what you believe.  Faith with corresponding actions will always produce result.  If you are asking God for prosperity, then you must give. Someone who says that they believe God for prosperity, but do not give, is deceiving themselves.  A person who says, “I am healed,” but continues to act sick and dwell on their symptoms, will kill whatever faith they have.  Furthermore, a person who intercedes for someone and then still worries whether anything will ever happen is not acting in faith.  

 

True biblical faith must be acted upon it will always produce results.  I encourage you to act upon what you believe.  Do you believe that you are healed?  If so, then you must act like it. Do you believe that God answers prayers?  Then do not give any thought or energy to the contrary of what you have prayed.  Say what God has to say about the situation and you will be amazed at how things will begin to turn around for you.

 

Prayer—Father thank you that my faith is active and energized, and today with your help I will put actions to my faith, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

YOUR ACTIONS WILL FLOW FROM A CLEANSED HEART

“And He aid, ‘what comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from with, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. Al these evil things come from within and defile a man.”—Mark 7:20-23

 

The outward appearance of a person is not important.  It is the condition of a person’s heart that matters to God.  However, mankind has not always understood this.  The covenant of circumcision was give to Abram in Genesis 17:9-14.  God said that any man who did not carry this sign of the covenant in his flesh was to be killed.  This placed a great importance on the act of circumcision.  The Apostle Paul tells us that Abraham had already been justified by faith before he was circumcised, in Romans 4:3-13.  Abram’s faith in God and His promise saved him at least thirteen years before He commanded Abram to be circumcised.

 

Down through the centuries, the Jews turned their focus to the outward act of circumcision instead of the inward act of faith as the reason for salvation.  This, too, was a source of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders.  They emphasized all the outward acts the Lord had commanded and were totally disregarding the condition of their hearts.  Jesus said that if an individual would cleanse their heart, their actions would inevitably change too. 

 

The condition of a person’s flesh is not the important thing.  God is interested in a person’s heart, not if their flesh has been circumcised or not.  Today, the religious questions center around the doctrine of water baptism, church membership, and other outward acts that some preach are necessary for salvation. 

 

Your faith in the love of God, as expressed through Jesus on the Cross and in His resurrection is the only thing God demands for your justification.  Religious rites mean nothing when it comes to salvation.  Your heart is what matters to God.  You can rejoice today that your heart safely trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that my heart is right with You and because it is out of the abundance of my heart my mouth will utter things that are pleasing to You, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.