James 2:18-26

¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
²⁰You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
²⁵In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Weather

When you heard that snowstorm was coming, how did you respond? Weather forecasters try their very best to predict a possible worst situation that may happen. Of course, it is very wise to prepare of whatever may happen, right? With godly wisdom, the Lord helps prepare for possible disaster and not entertain any foolish complacency.

We prayed for safety of everyone affected. Praise God! We survive. Amen!
After the storm, threat of pandemic, economic crisis and international conflicts still lingers on; natural calamities and man-made calamities should not be ignored. Do you expect that your faith in the Lord is always tested? But, how do you know that your faith in God is active and not dead? Active faith produces godly righteousness.

Abraham had practically exemplified how faith in God produces righteousness. Abraham is the father of all who have faith in God. It says in Romans 4:16-17: ¹⁶To those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God.

Here is a practical example how Abraham practiced his faith in God. He instructed his senior servant, “Get a wife for my son Isaac from my relatives.” His servant travelled and came to the town of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. Near the well where women draw water, the servant of Abraham prayed for success. He said in Genesis 24:12-14: ¹²“Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ¹³See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

What a good servant! He prioritized things favorable to his master. Do you agree?

The Lord answered his prayer; and he praised God. The servant may have seen how Abraham practiced his faith in God; he may have heard Abraham prayed. When he prayed to the God of Abraham for success; God answered him according to his prayer. So, how did Abraham practice his faith in such situation? What do you think?

Reflect on this possibility: Abraham’s faith includes trust that God would make his servant successful. As Abraham expected, God answered the prayer of his servant.

Personal experience is best practical proof, if we claim to have faith in God.

1. Claim

¹⁸But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

It says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” That statement indirectly declares that anyone can claim to have faith, may it be church attendees or bad elements in our society. Well, what do they believe? It is not necessarily meant that they believe in the same God that we Christians believe.

How can we know about what they believe? What is their beliefs or doctrines?

The very basic doctrinal statements of what we believe about God are stated in the membership handbook of The Maples Evangelical Church. And, church membership class is a necessary requirement before anyone is accepted to church membership.

Why? It is a very wise decision to personally know the church doctrines or beliefs before commitment to church membership. Right? And as members of this local church (TMEC), our congregational goal is to have unity in faith and knowledge of God. It says in Ephesians 4:11-13, ¹¹Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

All believers are essential parts of the body of Christ, the church. Every part of the body has significant function or work of service. Church ministries are great opportunity to practice faith. As we practice faith in Christ, we mature spiritually. So, get involved!

It is very advisable for church members to pray sincerely like: “Lord, help me grow mature spiritually and know how I may participate actively in the church ministries.”

For starters: You may not be very sure yet which ministry is right for you? What can you do? If you are attracted or interested in a particular ministry or you wish to learn from it, just get involved in that ministry. If that particular ministry inspires you to praise and thank God, keep on. Discover your spiritual gifts also. You will certainly enjoy your ministry involvement where your spiritual gift fits in.

But here’s a warning! Feeling of being burnt out, frustration and disappointment are real. Avoid forcing the issue of ministry involvement. Don’t try to impress others. Instead, be prayerful! Pray like, “Lord make it clear to me which ministry you want me to glorify your name.”

Church ministries are opportunities for members to practically apply what we believe as a congregation, at personal level, within the church setting. How is that?

We enjoy cleaning our church building regularly; we enjoy cleaning our home. Our manner in teaching Sunday school class should transpire when we teach our children at home. Participation in Vacation Bible School can have similar participation in school events, group activities at place of work, home gathering or community events. And in everything we do within church setting or outside church setting, we’ve got to make sure that we are always filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit of Christ.

Pray to be empowered by the Holy Spirit when you participate in the ministry. Why? Whatever we do as Christians, frustration and discouragement are realities. When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, we’ve got joy, peace, patience, and we avoid frustration and disappointment as we participate in church ministries. Truly, it’s great to enjoy when we practice faith in God and participate in church ministries, right? Certainly, when we sense the fruit of the Holy Spirit, it certifies that our involvement in the ministry would be credited as righteousness before the Lord.

2. Credit

²⁰You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ⁴²You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

The Lord sees through our heart and mind. He knows if a person has active faith or not. Without any hint of doubt, Abraham believed God; and, the Lord credited his deeds as righteousness. Faith that produces godly righteousness originated from God. God knows believers who trust in him and genuine faith comes from him. If such is true and accurate, why does the Lord still test our faith in him? Do you know why?

Remember when God instructed Abraham to offer Isaac as burnt offering? It was the greatest test of faith for Abraham. After that, God did not test his faith again. It stated in Genesis 22:6-8, ⁶Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” ⁸Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Of course, the wood for burnt offering that Isaac carried was not just a few little sticks, right? What does it imply when Isaac carried the wood for burnt offering?

It suggests that Isaac was not a little child anymore; he was strong enough. Anyway, when Isaac inquired about the lamb for burn offering, Abraham said that God will provide. Indeed, God honored his faith and provided a ram for the burnt offering.

See! Abraham didn’t argue and he didn’t ask for clarification of why God asked him to sacrifice as burnt offering his miracle son Isaac. Why? Abraham had personally proven that God can easily do miracles. See! When Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old, and his wife Sarah was 90 years old; they were as good as dead in his own eyes. Abraham was determined to sacrifice Isaac because he believed that, if God can cause old people to have a child, he can easily bring back to life a dead person. Anyway, his willingness to sacrifice Isaac was the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith. The Lord did not test his faith again after that. Abraham just enjoyed the rest of his life.

What lesson can we learn from Abraham’s willingness to obey to God?

Abraham was very rich materially, but his son Isaac was the most precious to him. When God required him to sacrifice his most precious son and he obeyed without any hesitation, he had proven that God is so precious to him more than anything else. Meaning: Abraham loved the Lord more than his precious son and material wealth.

If you claim to have faith in Christ, your faith will be tested. How sure are you that your faith in Christ is active? Make sure that you are his disciple. In Luke 14:26-27, Christ said: ²⁶If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Listen carefully: The English term “hate” was exaggeration which can be properly translated as “lesser love.” Why is that? Why not just say “lesser love” outright instead?

The Lord did not command us to hate our loved ones. He requires his disciples to prioritize him. Why? Faith in Christ includes trust that he knows what is best.  And when we prioritize him over our loved ones, we trust him that he performs what’s best for us. By faith, we trust that Christ provides everything we need for righteous lifestyle.

Do you love Jesus Christ more than your father and mother, wife, children or siblings? If you love Jesus Christ more than you love them, he knows it for certain.

Practically, our love for Christ is manifested in our love and care for our loved ones. God knows that Isaac was very precious to Abraham and Sarah. If Isaac died, it will be very painful to Sarah. God knows that very well. Being so, he provided the ram for burnt offering in place of Isaac and He also blessed Abraham in everything.

Here’s a challenge: Between family and career, what is more precious to you? If the Lord says, “Quit your job or career and go to the seminary,” will you obey? If the Lord says, “Leave your family and serve as missionary in Asia,” will you go?

If you sense readiness to follow his call and prioritize him over job or career and family, you have matured as Christ’s disciple. But if you sense a little hint of hesitation in your heart, pray for increase of faith. Pray until you will sense and strongly accept in your heart and mind that God’s plan is best lifestyle you will ever experience on earth. God blesses cheerful obedience to him. God doesn’t force anybody to obey him.

When active faith produces obedience to him, God considers it as righteousness.

3. Consider

²⁵In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Before Israelites entered the land of Canaan, Joshua sent men to spy on Jericho. Rahab gave lodging to the Israelites spies, and she helped them escaped. And because of what she did, it was credited to her as righteousness. How’s that? Did Rahab even think that she could be punished to death, if the king of Jericho found out that she helped the spies escaped? Certainly, yes! She knew it, for sure. But what caused Rahab to help the Israelite spies at the expense of her life?

The house of Rahab was annexed to the city wall of Jericho. What does it imply? She was ostracized in the society because she was a prostitute. Her own people may not have open arms for her. As such, she helped the Israelites spies with hope of new life. Can you accept that God transformed her heart to trust God that the Israelites will spare her and her family?

When God transforms us, we trust him. It says in Ephesians 2:8-10, ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

By faith that comes from God, we admit our sinfulness. We accept that eternal punishment for sin in hell. We agree that we cannot save ourselves from hell and no sinful human beings can save themselves from hell. Hence we all need a savior. By faith, we believed that Jesus Christ was crucified for believers to be saved from eternal punishment in hell. Christ Jesus is the Savior of all who believe and trust in him.

God freed us from the penalty of sin and we are free to live righteously. God had designed it that all believers will grow spiritually mature until we all attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Why do we need the fullness of Christ?

Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:16-19 ¹⁶Out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

If Jesus Christ dwells is our heart, his Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love in us. When godly love overflows in our life, the love of Christ will become more meaningful and desirable to us so that our lifestyle reflects godly love, and we cheerfully obey God. No amount of preaching can convince anybody to obey the Lord cheerfully.

Splashy Road

It’s springtime! Are you excited driving on splashy road? Some drivers do. I’m not.

When you’re driving behind another vehicle, the windshield of your car will gather dirt. If you slow down to keep distance, another vehicle will overtake and take the space in front of you; your windshield will gather dirt again making your vision of the road very blurry. Hence,  you are forced to use your wiper and windshield wiper fluid to clean the windshield.

Similarly, if we follow very close to worldly patterns of lifestyle, very soon our spiritual vision will be very blurry. We cannot see clearly where the Lord leads us. By faith, we believe that the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross washed away our sins. But since we are still living in this world, we are forced to follow the worldly traffic of life that may cause us to sin. Sin causes us not to clearly see spiritual realities.

We have to repent of our sins. It says in 1 John 1:8-10, ⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

When we confess our sins, the Lord wipes away the sinful dirt in us. Our spiritual vision will be much clearer and we will realize the beauty of following our Lord Jesus. Confession of sin is also the practical proof of faith in the Lord.

Do you have clear vision of the spiritual path where Christ is leading you personally? The spiritual path specifically designed for you personally is God’s call, particularly prepared for you only.

Ask God for increase of faith. Lack of faith is sinfulness and without faith cannot please God. Keep praying for increase of faith until you sense very clearly your spiritual path where God is calling you. God’s call is where God wants you to practice faith in him.
And when you have active faith in Him, He will bless you more than you can ever dream of.

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