What you really believe!

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But 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. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 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. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. (James 2:14-24)
My wife’s family come from Northern Ireland. It’s a beautiful part of the world, especially the stunning Antrim coastline with its’ famous Giant’s Causeway and the nearby Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. I am not good with heights and the first time we visited I refused point blank to cross it.  I watched numerous visitors go from one side to the other, including my mother-in-law! But a couple of planks of wood and a few strands of wire swinging 30 meters above the crashing waves is not my idea of fun.  I could have said that I thought it was safe, but my actions suggested something else.

It’s the same with faith. People can say all kinds of things, but if you want to know what they truly believe, watch how they live. In the Bible faith is always connected to an action or quality resulting from belief.  In the passage we have just read, James is not setting up a choice between faith and deeds. He is saying that they always go together. Deeds on their own will certainly not save you, but faith that doesn’t lead to actions, isn’t really faith at all.

This helps when it comes to thinking about faith and feelings. We sometimes think that positive feelings are the indication that faith is present. But, often the strongest faith is exercised when we carry on being obedient to what God has said, even in face of doubt and uncertainty. On a later visit to the rope bridge I was determined not to chicken out. My legs were shaking and I refused to look down, but I made it across! The decisive factor was not the strength of my feelings but the strength of the bridge and the fact that, whatever was going on inside me, I still chose to put one foot in front of the other. Faith is choosing to believe that what God says is true and then acting accordingly – whatever we feel.
  1. If someone had watched your life closely for the last month without hearing a word you said – what conclusions would they have drawn about your beliefs?
  2. Is there something that you know God is calling you to do but you just haven’t been able to follow it through yet? Why not tell God now exactly how you are feeling about this and ask for his help.
  3. Can you think of a time when you did step out in obedience to God even though you felt uncertain? Would you say that your faith grew as a result of the experience?
Father, I thank you for your patience and kindness towards me. I confess that there has often been a gap between what I say I believe about you and how I act. I ask you to forgive me and to help me as I choose to live today by faith in you. Amen. 
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
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