Faith Without Follow-Through

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:14-18

Something that Martie and I have been noticing of late is the lack of discipline or follow-through in many Christians we know.  They can nod their heads in agreement when reminded of the Word of God, but cannot be found when it is time to demonstrate the truth and commands from the same Word of God. If it is convenient then they might do thus and so, but if there is a ball game on or they can think of somewhere else to be, well - the Christian in them will just have to take a back seat.

Thinking good thoughts is not enough. If you are prompted by the Spirit, you should act then and do what the Spirit is telling you to do. As an example, we teach a Bible study called Experiencing God.  It requires about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week to complete the lessons and be prepared for the next meeting. So often we have seen that after some of the people sign up for the class, they show up with no work done in their book. A book they paid for. We can make time to vegetate in front of the TV for several hours but not 30 minutes to spend time with the Lord. I am not being critical of the people, just forlorn by what I see as their lack of interest in growing spiritually. And a lost opportunity to go deeper in their relationship with God. 

James wrote about the lack of follow-through about 2000 years ago. Just saying that people have not changed that much over time. Technology is about the only difference I can see between then and now. If you have a problem with finding time to practice the disciplines of the faith, you don't have a time problem, you have a love problem. You love the world too much and God not enough. You are living with a divided heart. Like James suggested - it doesn't matter how much you talk about faith if you don't live it out.

Yes, we are saved by grace through faith and not of works. That would be putting the works-cart in front of the faith-horse. But good works are a natural outflow of an abiding faith. "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone