Tag Archives: faith

December 19, 2018

Action!

By marilynnchadwick

Action. Movement. Progress. Results in life matter. James challenges us to consider our results—the bottom line of our beliefs. What we believe impacts how we live.

But do our actions make us good enough for God? Does the salvation of our souls depend upon how well we live out the commandments? Must we work our way to heaven? Absolutely not!

Our One Word Devotional focus today is on the word action. Let’s see what James has to say about the importance of our actions:

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17 NIV)

So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead) (James 1:17 AMP).

These words have sparked controversy for centuries.  But the exhortation here is not so much about how we get “saved.”  Rather, what are the characteristicsof saving faith?  Quite simply, if faith has no corresponding actions, it’s not real faith, James argues.  Outward actions are merely evidence that our faith is “alive and kicking.”

Let me give you a practical illustration:  I have two flower arrangements in my kitchen window.  One is a beautiful vase of freshly cut flowers. Beautiful, but dead—those flowers can never reproduce.  The other container holds a lovely potted bloom, its roots surrounded by soil, ready for planting.  It will live and produce new blooms…again and again. This flower is alive.

In a similar way, true faith, by its very nature, will produce actions that correspond to our inner beliefs.  This kind of faith is alive.

If you have trusted Jesus for your salvation—accepting His death and resurrection as payment for your sins—you are “saved.” Your righteousness is settled.  You are made perfect in God’s sight by grace through faith.  Period.

Such faith is alive and will naturally produce actions.  This does not mean you are perfect all at once or that you will never fail. But you are alive, forever a member of God’s family.  Once that question is settled, ask yourself:  Since I believe, what is God asking me to do as a corresponding act of obedience?

God’s Word is also alive (Hebrews 4:12).  It tells us how to live out our beliefs. The Holy Spirit gives us the power we need to follow the commands in Scripture.

Today, listen for your marching orders.  What actions will you take after you read and meditate upon God’s living Word?

Lord, let my faith be alive and active. I come to Your Word for life, power, and inspiration.  Remind me to care for the poor and the poor in Spirit.  Give me Your eyes as I go about my business today and nudge me when to give a kind word, a helping hand, a few dollars. Prick my heart with an urgency for action.  Break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in The Fight of Faith

December 16, 2018

Religion!

By marilynnchadwick

“I got religion” was the folksy expression I sometimes heard growing up in the deep South when someone accepted Jesus.  As for me, I spent most of those years running awayfrom religion.  And from God. But the Lord was relentless in His pursuit.  In time, I surrendered to His free gift of Grace.  I came to understand that following Christ was about a relationship—not a religion.  Salvation was made possible only through the costly blood of God’s Son. No wonder they call it “Amazing Grace.”

James prods us to practice true religion.  He’s not talking here about religion as a ticket to heaven.  Rather, religion in this context, refers to the practical expression of our devotion to the Lord:

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you(James 1:27 NLT).

The Greek word translated “religion” is threskos—seldom used in the New Testament.  Threskos describes outward service rather than our inward piety of heart. It’s all about our actions. True religion, according to James must involve acts of mercy, love, and holiness.

Let’s look at this same versein the Amplified Bible:

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world (James 1:27 AMP).

We are saved only by grace through faith. Our faith is the foundation for all of our good works. Good works cannot earn our salvation. But If we truly want to please the Lord, we’ll be intentional to pour our life out in service to the hurting ones around us. Especially the widows and orphans.

James reminds us we must also not forget the purity of our own life. We are called to holiness. That’s the kind of religion, he challenges, that pleases the Lord.

So I’m asking God to show me who is on His heart.  I want to be sensitive to His Spirit. Alert to practical ways I can serve those in need.  Especially during this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of His son.  I’ve also prayed for the Holy Spirit to correct me in areas I need to clean up—it’s so easy to slide into the self-centered ways of the world.

Today, as we step out into our world, let’s dare to pray the prayer God always answers:  Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Answer God’s Call, The Holy Spirit

December 12, 2018

Fade!

By marilynnchadwick

Faded jeans.  Faded furniture. Faded memories—mental images grown dim over time. Let’s be honest. Life here on earth fades.

Time tricks us, tempts us, promises what it can’t deliver.  So we humans buy the lie and exhaust ourselves—chasing after that which fades.

Riches. Achievements. Beauty.  All are satisfying at first. But they don’t last. Anyone who has watched a loved one age and die knows that the joys we experience on this earth are fleeting.

Life fades. So James beckons us to turn our eyes toward eternity, reminding us how “the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. (James 1:11 NLT).

Let’s reflect on the complete passage from The Message. I’m stirred by this artful paraphrase, a nice companion to my Study Bible:

Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing (James 1:9-11 MSG).

God’s Word always points us toward things unseen.  Eternity. Right from the start, James reminds us that our trials build perseverance (James 1:2-4). Trials also reveal what lasts—and what fades.  Trials can loosen our grip on the goods of this life so that we anchor ourselves firmly in the eternal.

For reflection:

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:12 NIV). That kind of crown is eternal!

God wants us to freely enjoy this life. But it’s wise to sit lightly on its fleeting pleasures. We’re to build our foundation on the eternal life given to us only in Christ. A blessing which will never fade!

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December 11, 2018

Complicated!

By marilynnchadwick

Following Christ gets complicated when we try to live by the standards of this world:  Work hard. Dream big.  Solve life’s problems with good sense and hard work.  Measure your worth by your success.

James points us to another reality—a different power source.  A God who cares. Who answers prayers. Who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves:  When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is… double-minded and unstable in all they do (James 1:6-8).

Ask. Believe. But be sure to resist doubt, says James. Easier said than done.  Sometimes, living in two worlds can get very complicated.

The Greek word translated “ask” also means “to pray.” James knew a thing or two about prayer.  His reputation as a man of fervent prayer earned him the nickname “camel knees.”  The oldest half-brother of Jesus, he was an eye-witness to the resurrection.  James became the leader of the believers in Jerusalem.  The book of James is thought to be written shortly before he was martyred.

Who better to teach us to stand firm in our faith? To believe and not doubt. To resist the dangers of being double-minded.

Double-minded, or dipsychos, describes someone who has “two minds.”  That’s the very definition of complicated, according to Spiros Zhodiates, PhD, editor of the Key Word Study Bible. I lovingly call this my “Big Fat Greek Bible.” It’s my personal favorite!

Let’s take a few minutes to read and reflect on these verses from James in the Amplified version:

It must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.  For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]  (James 1:6-8 AMP).

Wow. These verses challenge me to believe when I pray. They warn me about the dangers of doubt. I’m letting the words sink deep. Searching my heart for unbelief. Repenting of doubt.  When it comes to my faith, maybe it’s time to stop being so complicated.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in answered prayer, Arm Yourself with Spiritual Strength

December 10, 2018

Trials!

By marilynnchadwick

The Olympic Trials are a spectacular event. Young athletes from all over the United States compete for the few coveted spots on the US Olympic team.

Of all the Olympic hopefuls, swimmers endure some of the most grueling training schedules. They practice before dawn. Miss out on vacations. Barely remember a lazy day off.  Pretty much sacrifice a normal life—all for the chance to make it to the Olympic Trials.  “Training for trials” has become familiar jargon around here since our youngest son happens to be a competitive swimmer.

As believers we, too, should train for our trials. Like any good coach, James encourages us to face our trials head on: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV).

I’m so glad you’ve dropped in for our One Word Devotional:  “Journey through James.” Today’s focus is on the word trials. Have you thought about how your daily routine of prayer, reading God’s Word, listening, and obeying—day after day after day—prepares you to stand strong when you are faced with a trial?

Training for trials prepares you for the battles ahead.  Dear friend, do you love the fight of faith? Paul calls it a “good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12).  It’s been said that we should love the fight of faith in the same way an athlete loves his sport.

I don’t know if I’d say I love trials.  But there’s something invigorating about approaching each day on the offensive. Strengthening myself in God’s Word. Being intentional about prayer.

I should walk away from my devotional time armed and ready.  Expectant and watchful.  Alert to signs of God at work. Prepared for opportunities to step out in faith.  Ready to share the Gospel. Meet a need. Take back territory from the enemy.  Determined to stand strong in the inevitable trials of life.

Let’s reflect on the rest of this passage from James:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4 NIV).

Meditate on these verses, paying special attention to the word trials. Notice that James takes us beyond merely enduring trials.  He encourages us to consider our trials as an opportunity for joy. The very tools God uses to strengthen us, build endurance, make us complete!

Think about the joy of an athlete winning his race. What if that same kind of joy awaits us when we prevail in our trial?  Today, let’s agree to train for our trials. And look forward to our victory through Christ!

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in finding strength, wait training