James 2:14

New American Standard Version

What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          We cannot claim to believe one way and yet act another. Of what value is it for a person to say he has faith in the Lord but his actions tell an entirely different story? Is that the kind of faith that leads to true salvation?

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          Whenever I can, I always like to pay with exact change so that I don’t end up with a pocketful of coins and “jingle” when I walk.  I know, some of you always break a dollar with every purchase, collect a bunch of change in your pocket and put it in some milk jug or something at the end of every day.  Please don’t write me and tell me that you are saving enough money to support a missionary to the Amazon or take a vacation to Tahiti or something – just go with me on this one.  It gives me some strange kind of satisfaction to have just enough change in my pocket to make a purchase and not break a larger bill or whatever.

          The other day I went to pay for breakfast at McDonalds and at first glance it appeared that I had sufficient change to make the purchase and avoid the dreaded bill breaking.  However, what I had thought was a quarter actually turned out to be a Chuck E. Cheese token!  I had taken a group of my grandkids for a wild and crazy time at old Chuck E.’s and I had inadvertently put one of the game tokens in my pocket along with my change.

          For some reason, I could not talk the McDonalds cashier into accepting the cheesy currency!?!  Though I assured her that Chuck would stand behind it she would have none of it!  Though at first glance it looked real, a closer examination revealed that it was not real no matter how many words I might say to prove otherwise.

          I use that silly little story to make a point about a life that has been redeemed and transformed by God’s grace.  It is not real just because we say it is – a life that has been genuinely transformed from the inside out by the saving work of Christ will show clear evidence that it is legitimate and not counterfeit.  This evidence will not be perfection because we still live with the remnants of our old sinful natures - though we have been given a new nature by God’s grace that will constantly war against our old nature.  Our new and spiritual nature will produce external evidence – words and actions that will reflect the reality of the Holy Spirit who now lives in us and through us.  To put it more simply – if it is real, it will show.

          We don’t behave a certain way to achieve or earn salvation – that is a work of God’s grace and received as a free gift by faith.  But if we truly have received Him by faith and He has come to live in us – the reality of His presence will not be reflected with mere words – our actions will show it as well.  Does this mean we must try harder to do better?  No, we must simply surrender more consistently to what He is already seeking to do in our lives. 

          We can’t change us – but He can!  The Lord’s spirit wants to live through you today and show others the Lord you know and love through your life.  Just get out of the way and let Him!  Lay self on the altar today and let the Lord Jesus who lives in you love others through you.  As you do, you will be living a life that demands explanation - because it looks more like Him.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that others would see Jesus in your attitudes, words, and actions today.  Ask the Holy Spirit to take control of your life this day so that others might know that your faith is more than mere words but flows from a changed heart.  Pray for those who talk one way but live quite another.

 END