Verse of the Day 3/2

Through the Bible - Exodus 31-33, James 2

 

Good morning,

For those of you who are following the Bible reading plan above, we've now moved into the book of James, which some refer to as the Proverbs of the New Testament.  It is packed with practical instruction for living, putting our Christian faith to action.

 

Yesterday we considered the importance of spending time with God and His word as a means to transform our lives.  It all starts with faith, however, this faith is not passive, it is active.

For today's verses we'll go to James 2 where James is writing of Abraham's "living faith" encouraging us to be like him, to be a friend of God.

 

James 2:22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"  and he was called God's friend.  NIV

Would that describe your walk, your life, your faith and actions working together?  Abraham's actions displayed the genuineness of his faith.  His faith was made complete by what he did.  John MacArthur writes, "this refers to bringing something to its end or to its completion.  Just as a fruit tree has not arrived at its goal until it bears fruit, faith has not reached its end until it demonstrates itself" in our lives.

 

One of my favorite verses about God's Word is Hebrews 4:12:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   NIV

As God's Word is living and active, our faith is to be living and active, powered by the Word and His Spirit living through us as friends of God.

 

The words of the old hymn "Channels Only" come to mind.

 

How I praise Thee, precious Savior,

That Thy love laid hold of me;

Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me,

That I might Thy channel be.

 

Channels only, blessed Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power,

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
James 2:14-3:1

 

Faith Without Works Is Dead

 

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith  but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith  apart from your works, and I will show you my faith  by my works. 19  You believe that God is one; you do well. Even  the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that  faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed  by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says,  "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a  friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also  Rahab the prostitute justified by works  when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.   ESV