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Today's Scripture

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
—James 2:14-17 (NIV)


This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
—1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

 

Reflect on the Word

Upon reading James 2:14-17, the question that comes to mind is this: “What about our religion allows us to feel satisfied by our words without our works?” The question has to be asked using the word “religion,” because we surely could not insert the word “discipleship” here. While there may be religion that relies heavily on feel-good phrasing and ignores the day-to-day living in the way of Jesus, there is certainly no discipleship without action.


Jesus said in John 10:10: “But I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Aren’t we grateful that His promise of abundant life didn’t end with His words in John 10, but was backed up by the act of his death and resurrection? In John 13, Jesus finishes washing His disciples’ feet and then says: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” So, if true discipleship is the imitation of the way of Jesus, and the way of Jesus is that the Word himself puts on flesh and bone (John 1:14) and comes to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28), let us too put substance to the things we speak. Let us put bone and flesh to the call of 1 John 3, to love with our actions and in truth—that our words would reflect the reality of our transformation in Christ.

 

Prayer + Contemplation

  1. Take a moment to thank Jesus for His willingness to lay Himself down for you and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight how you might lay your life down for others today.
  2. It is often easier to pronounce a blessing than to be a blessing for those around us. Prayerfully reflect on a situation in which you have been given the ability to meet a need and write down how you will put action to your faith in this area.
  3. Ask the Lord to give you greater compassion and empathy for those around you who are in need. May you be compelled to love them ina way that will reflect for them the love of God.