Good Works!

Isaiah 32; Isaiah 33; Isaiah 34; Isaiah 35; James 2
Click Here To Read Or Listen To Today’s Daily Bible Reading

Good Works!

Scripture

James 2

Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead

14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Observation

Faith isn’t faith at all if there is not good works as a result of having faith! Faith and good works go hand in hand you don’t have one without the other.
Doing good works comes with biblical faith and it is not simply believing that there is a God because even the demons believe in God, but they aren’t Christ followers!

Application

Knowing that you should do something and then not doing it is a sin. It is a faith without good works. I will strive to be obedient this week when the Lord impresses me to do something for someone. So I don’t miss out on being a blessing to someone.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I confess that I fit right in with the group that James is talking about in this chapter. I knew yesterday of something that I should have done for someone and I didn’t do it. I have confessed it as sin. I know that You will forgive me, but it hurts me to know that I have done something that isn’t pleasing in your sight. Some people might think that it was a very small thing, but I believe that in Your eyes obedience is always a very big thing. Help me to be obedient, don’t let me let something go by that should have been a witness of my relationship with You. I missed out on a blessing yesterday, don’t let me miss out on more today. Guide and direct me today and clearly show me what I need to do and who I need to help.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!