Is Your Faith Showing?

      By Fern Horst

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:14-18)

In the book of James in the Bible, God gives us a very vivid picture of the importance of putting our faith to work. It's an easy thing to say "I believe in Jesus Christ as my Saviour." And when we say it, should others just take us at our word, or are they right to expect that there be evidence in our actions?

According to the Bible, God expects evidence of our faith, so it's only natural that those around us will also. Our salvation is not based on our good deeds. It is based on the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and accepted by us by faith. If our faith is real, however, we will act on it, and in more ways than just opening our mouths and saying, "I believe."

James gave us an example of seeing someone without food and adequate clothing, but sending them on their way just as destitute as ever, telling them, "Be warm and full." Words in and of themselves will not clothe this person nor satisfy their hunger. If we really and truly want them to be warm and full we will do something to make sure that they get the proper clothing and food that they need.

And so it is with our salvation. Words of faith are not enough. If our faith is real we will live it out every day and every moment of our lives. We will seek ways to serve our Lord Jesus and to further His Kingdom. And when we do wrong, we will ask His forgiveness and seek His help to do what is right.

And so I ask, is your faith showing? Is it showing in how you treat others? Is it showing in your sense of purpose and joy of living? Is it showing in how you choose to spend your time?

It's easy to wait until a better time, a better situation, a better mood. But now is the time to put our faith into action if it's as real as we say it is.

© 2006 Fern Horst

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