Do Something

Do Something

James 2: ¹⁸ But someone will say, “One person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.” ¹⁹ Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear. ²⁰ You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless? ²¹ How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. ²² Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions. ²³ And the scripture came true that said, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.” And so Abraham was called God's friend. ²⁴ You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.

 

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Just moving into this particular house was exciting. I put a water filter on the refrigerator and went to work. When I got home. I could hear splashing in the basement. The water filter I put on was faulty and leaked all day. The basement floor was now wet.

 

• I believed something needed to be done.
• I knew GOD could do anything and I believed HE could.
• I had to get a mop to clean up the water after changing the water filter.

 

James challenges believers in JESUS to do something. He goes into detail about believing in GOD. He says “demons also believe”, which is to say, evil beings believe in GOD but don’t “do” what HE says. He then gives an example of Abraham showing his faith by his actions.

 

My Observations:

• Belief in JESUS should make me want to serve people just because of my relationship with HIM.
• Faith in JESUS should make me desire to do what HE wants me to do.
• Actions for JESUS show my faith and belief in HIM.

 

Believing in something leads me to “do something.” I mean, when I believe in a cause or a person or a group, I go to meetings, give money and wear the garments that show how much I “believe.” GOD deserves the same honor.

 

GOD wants me to speak about HIM, serve others for HIM and live inside of HIM, meaning doing what HE wants me to do. HE not only sees my intentions, but sees my actions. I can say “I will call you” with no intention to call or I can just call you. I gladly put GOD above other priorities so I can do HIS will.

 

Challenge

• What is the difference between faith (belief) and actions according to the writer?
• Can you believe in something but not do the thing you believe in?
• Will you put your faith to action and ask GOD what HE wants you to “do” today? 

For or Against

For or Against

Acts 13: ⁶ Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ¹⁰ and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

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Wanting a certain person on my team, I reached out to meet. Instead of asking questions about my team, she inquired about another area of the company. Slightly hurt, I was tempted to suggest the benefits of my department. I had a decision to make. Tell the truth and say “Go pursue the other department” or slander the other department.

• There have been times when I really wanted my way.
• There have been times when I considered using slander as a tactic to get my way.
• There have been times when I wanted to overlook the truth in order to get my way.

Sergius Paulus sought to hear the truth about GOD and heard Barnabas and Saul were in town. Unfortunately, there were other people who wanted to remain in power and spread lies about them, trying to turn people from the faith they preached. Saul, who is also called Paul, was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and saw through his evil attempt.

• GOD gave me the HOLY SPIRIT to guide me in truth.
• GOD gave me the HOLY SPIRIT so I can speak love, not slander.
• GOD gave me the HOLY SPIRIT to fight the temptation of getting my way, instead of seeking the truth.

Listening to the HOLY SPIRIT and doing what HE says is highly important. When I choose to get my way over doing what the HOLY SPIRIT says, I am actually fighting GOD. Even when I do not seek to hear the HOLY SPIRIT, I am choosing a path that may be against GOD.

Everything I do is either for GOD or against GOD. That’s as plain as I can put it. This may only seem extreme when I am against GOD, trying to get my way. GOD wants to mature me to see HIM in everything, not just the things I want to put HIM in. I am grateful HE grows me at a pace I can handle.

• Are you trying to get your way?
• Do you have something in your heart that is causing you to lie or slander?
• Will you ask GOD to remove the thing that keeps you from telling the full truth and fill you with the HOLY SPIRIT so HE can use you in a mighty way today?

Okay Do That

Matthew 25: ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

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“What will I say?”, “What shall I do?” were the questions that ran through my mind as I went out on my first mission’s trip. After riding for a long time I calmed down but when I got off the bus I felt a bit overwhelmed.  I mean there were people there who only possessed the clothes on their backs. I didn’t know what to do.

• Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the problems of the world.
• Sometimes I want someone else to handle the problem of poverty and loneliness.
• Sometimes I don’t want to know that someone else is hurting because I need a vacation.

Thinking about someone else who had more problems than me was the first hurdle. I mean I had enough problems to have a missionary sent to me. Besides, what was I supposed to “do” when I encountered this person? I was not a billionaire so I couldn’t house and feed everyone. “Maybe the rich should do this!” I thought brazenly to myself!

• JESUS says to me “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for ME.”
• JESUS says to me “It does not matter what you do as long as you are serving those in need.”
• JESUS says to me “Start somewhere because anything you do for those in need, you do it for ME.”

I only had handshakes, hugs and prayers to give to the people. I sat with several and listened to them and prayed with them. We laughed a while and I encouraged a few. When I went back two years later I ran into one person who remembered me but I did not remember him.

“You encouraged me!” he said. “Now I am a pastor reaching out to others. I was excited and overwhelmed again as the words popped into my head “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.”

• Are you too overwhelmed with your own problems to help someone?
• Do you feel like you have nothing to offer someone because you too are broke, hurt and lonely?
• Can you ask GOD to be sent to the right person so you can encourage them today?

If Not Me

Matthew 21: ³⁸ “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ ³⁹ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

⁴⁰ “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

⁴¹ “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

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“Will you serve this particular Sunday?” was the question. “Yes” was my answer, because it was easy and I had nothing planned. “Will you teach?’ was the question. “Yes” was my answer, because it wouldn’t take up too much time.  “Will you go with us on a mission’s trip?” was the question posed to me. Many reasons came to mind as far as why I could not go, all of which were excuses.

• There are times when I think someone else should do “that.”
• There are times when I am called and I hang up the phone.
• There are times when I want life easy.

Wanting an easy life is not exactly the problem in this parable, but it is related. The tenants, Israel, rejected JESUS as the Messiah. They killed HIM thinking they would inherit HIS kingdom, namely heaven. Unfortunately they would never believe and would meet a wretched end.

Same goes for me. GOD wants me to do something. I don’t mean HE wants me to work my fingers to the bone trying to gain salvation. What I mean is HE wants me to do “something.” “If not me then who?” is the question. GOD wants me to serve someone at some point in time. HE may even call me to do something extreme for HIM and I should be ready.

• GOD wants me to serve others even when it is inconvenient.
• GOD wants me to pray for others even when I don’t like them.
• GOD wants me to speak well of others so HE can speak well of me.

The story ends with the tenants being replaced by others who are willing, by those without excuses. Unfortunately I have passed up my opportunities to serve others many times. BUT GOD has other opportunities ahead. I should be ready with “Yes.”

• Are you being called?
• Do you think someone else should do “that?”
• Can you listen to GOD’s calling and respond?