What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17 ESV)
Question: How does God know if you have faith? Well, He can see into your heart, mind and soul; He just knows if you have faith.
Another Question: How do other people know if you have faith? Well, you can tell them all about what you believe. You can talk about how you are trusting the Lord to your needs. The best way for other people to know if you have faith is to SHOW them! This is what James means in our passage today. James is building on what he said in James 1:22 which says, "But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourself."
The Christian life is about trusting God for our eternal salvation and daily living. It is having faith, trusting that God's Word is true. God sees into our hearts and knows our faith. Others see our faith as we put it into action.
My challenge to you: to make a commitment to give to the needs of a missionary. I know you are thinking, "You tell me to give, I don't have much." That is why it is called faith in action!
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Written by Jim Dugan (CBC Missionary to Australia)
I liked this devo. Just the other day so men jokingly said to me 'Your name should be Faith because you're filled with it' I thought it was odd because I don't like sharing my faith because I get too scared. But other people must see that I have faith. What greater things I could accomplish if I shared my faith with others.
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