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? 

It’s You Not Me

 

It’s You Not Me

Acts 1: ⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the whole world is hearing about your faith. ⁹ God is my witness that what I say is true—the God whom I serve with all my heart by preaching the Good News about his Son. God knows that I remember you ¹⁰ every time I pray. I ask that God in his good will may at last make it possible for me to visit you now. ¹¹ For I want very much to see you, in order to share a spiritual blessing with you to make you strong. ¹² What I mean is that both you and I will be helped at the same time, you by my faith and I by yours.

 

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Another year had past without a source of sustainable income, yet we were taken care of. As Christmas rolled around, I remember instructing the family to bake gifts and write letters of thanks. But deep down I had a question. “What about me?” Would I have to go another year trying to make things work?

 

• There have been times when I had become too weary to think of others.
• There have been times when I had become too beat up to pray for others.
• There have been times when I had become too weak to see that other people had needs.

 

Paul had been through a lot. He had been chased, jailed, shipwrecked, beaten and bitten by a poisonous snake. GOD sustained him through all the hardship. Paul became more thankful and so he starts off his letter by thanking GOD through JESUS for people.

 

• GOD wants me to see a way out of the situation is to be thankful.
• GOD wants me to put aside the situation for moments of praise to HIM.
• GOD wants me to be excited about people enough to include them in my prayers.

 

Thinking of others is hard when I am distracted by the enemy. I mean, the worries of the world prevent me from seeing others in need. BUT GOD loves when I see what HE sees, even if it is only for a moment. When I have needs and I can still see other people have needs, then GOD is excited.

 

HE accepts my prayers as I intercede for others. HE loves when I stand in the gap for the weak and helpless, especially when I am one of them. GOD loves when I have “you” type thinking. I am grateful for you and I hope GOD pours out HIS blessings on you and me.

 

• Are you busy thinking about yourself?
• Do you think you should get “your” way but have forgotten other people have needs?
• Will you gain strength over the situation by praying to GOD that JESUS comes into the lives of those around you 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?