James 2:20-26
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"-and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Points to Ponder
Isn't the point in these verses that faith results in action? Faith without action is not action and action without faith is not faith. To know a truth doesn't necessarily lead to obedience to the truth, but to believe a truth, leads to active obedience in light of that truth.
This litmus test can give us a glimpse into our own hearts. What we know we may say with our lips, but what we believe is only evident through our attitudes and actions. "We act upon what we believe not upon what we know."1 Understanding that distinction has greatly impacted my life as I have gained greater understanding of my own heart.
How about you? What does your life say about what you truly believe?
Some food for thought today.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.
1 Vicki Arudda, quoted in Praying God's Word by Beth Moore
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