James 2 - 6.27.23

SCRITPURE:  James 2:14,15  "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can his faith save him?"

OBSERVATION:  James, the half-brother of Jesus, and the lead pastor in Jerusalem agreed with the apostle Paul that a person is saved by grace through faith, and works do not contribute to salvation.  But James went on to stress that genuine faith will eventually produce good works, as it did in the lives of Abraham and Rahab.

APPLICATION:   I pray I will not judge others according to my own standards because God alone knows the condition of every heart and the reason behind our actions.  If I have true faith in God good works will follow, and it will demonstrate my genuine love for Him. 

PRAYER:  I pray my love for God will continually grow, and that the evidence of my love for Him will bring forth much fruit and good works produced by faith.  One of the marks of a true believer is how I help the poor and under-privileged, so I pray that I will use my resources wisely as I willingly and cheerfully meet the needs of others.  I pray as I read God's Word that I will be a doer of His Word, not just a hearer, " Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works - this person will be blessed in what he does." ( James 1:25).

Lord, thank You for all You have given me!  I pray You will help me to be a good listener of Your Word, and that I will apply it, and practice it daily as I serve You with good works - simply because of my great love for You.

- Robin Orefice