James 2 – Faith and Works

Aug4

​Good evening y’all. Today I am blogging on James 2: 14- end.

Be blessed 🙂 

It’s not good enough to say you have faith and then do nothing or say things that are contrary to the Faith you profess. Verse 17-20 and 24 says:

“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 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.” 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. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone”.(James 2:17‭-‬20‭, ‬24 NLT)

In the verses above, James tells us the importance of following up our faith with good deeds. That is, if I say I have faith in God, then what I say or do must show that indeed I have faith. 

James gave us the example of Abraham and Rahab. Abraham could have easily said ‘God I love you, I believe in you so I don’t need to prove it to you by killing my son‘. Instead when the instruction came to prove his faith in God, he obeyed and God came through for him. Scripture says it’s was counted unto him as righteousness  

“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? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 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”. (James 2:21‭-‬23 NLT)

I like how the Message version puts this – 

“Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?”(James 2:21‭-‬24 MSG)

Message bible says “Faith expresses itself in works”. That is faith comes alive in the good works you do.
My prayer for us all today is that God will give us the grace to do the right thing by him. That our actions and words will match our faith. 
Prayer: Dear Lord, pls let my actions match the Faith that I profess. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Thanks for joining today. Pls feel free to share your thoughts on the chapter. 

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I’m blogging through the book of James with Good Morning Girls. Check us out at www.goodmorninggirls.org.

Have a blessed evening 🙂

Deuteronomy 17 – Daily chewing on the Word

May3

Good evening yall. Today we are studying Deuteronomy 17.

Be blessed 🙂

image

Verses 19 -20 in this chapter stood out for me.

“He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel”. (Deut 17:19‭-‬20 NLT)

“Each day the king must read and obey these laws, so that he will learn to worship the Lord with fear and trembling and not think that he’s better than everyone else. If the king completely obeys the Lord’s commands, he and his descendants will rule Israel for many years”. (Deut 17:19‭-‬20 CEVUS06)

The more we read and meditate on a particular thing the more it becomes a part of us that’s why Moses encouraged the king to read the decree of God daily so that he will continue to fear the Lord and also not become proud for his own good.

Majority of us spend a lot of time and money on getting materials to make our bibles colourful and our journals, but do we actually go back to read them and meditate on them. I’ll speak for myself, I  know I don’t do that 90% of the time unless I have a problem and then I remember to go back and read through the Sunday notes or the promises I’ve highlighted in bible. 

I’m challenged by Moses command here to the king. He has to write it down and recite it daily. We are to chew on the word daily so we don’t forget it. Also reading the word will make him realise his need for God and make him Humble.

The more time we spend in the word the more we will be like the WORD

Let’s take up this challenge today. Let’s commit to spend time with God every day; to keep His word before us as we go about our daily activities.

I pray the Holy Spirit will give us the grace to fulfill this challenge. In Jesus Name. Amen

Thanks for joining today 🙂 Pls feel free t share your thots on the chapter 🙂

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I am blogging through the book of Deuteronmy with Good Morning Girls. Check us out at www.goodmorninggirls.org.