James 2:14-26
In this scripture, James explains about Faith and Works. Starting from verse 14 it says, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?"
As Christians, its important we have faith but our faith must be backed up strongly by what we do. James explains in more details by giving us an illustration in verse 15-16.
15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
The verse is pretty much self explanatory. If a person is hungry, its much better to get him/her something to eat rather than to say "i hope you're full."
In these similar ways its important that we don't only say things but we mean it and sometimes if necessary what we say must be supported by what we do. It's hard for non-believers to tell if you're Christian for example, If you say you love God, but you don't respect you parents, its like doing the opposite. James mentions that 'faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.' I think James was just emphasizing how important it is for us Christians to have both faith and works part of their lives.
I pray that you too will live lives not just full of words but words that are alive, expressed through the actions you make in the house, school, and church.
-kuya
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Meaning of Faith
Hebrews 11
By Faith
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring[b] will be reckoned."[c] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER. IT’S JUST TOO BIG TO BE PUT HERE
Connecting it to the previous devotional entry about “The dead girl and the sick woman” this week will also about faith. Similar to the sick lady from the previous devotional entry every faith has a corresponding action. Hebrews 11 talks about people in the bible who were faithful and acted upon it. It was said in Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God. Similar to the sick lady, she was there in the crowd and had faith that Jesus can heal her, and she touched His garment and really believed that she could be healed.
So in our daily lives do you think if we give our 50% on the things we do everyday shows that we have faith in God? Giving anything less than your 100% means that you doubt that God cant give you what you need. All he wants is that when you face your trials that you to give it your 100%. Even if you think that your trials are so big that it can never be done, just do your 100% and God will give you enough strength to overcome it. That is living by faith, when you give everything you have to God and you trust that he will be with you all the way through.
Additional verse: James 2:16-17
-Kuya
By Faith
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring[b] will be reckoned."[c] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER. IT’S JUST TOO BIG TO BE PUT HERE
Connecting it to the previous devotional entry about “The dead girl and the sick woman” this week will also about faith. Similar to the sick lady from the previous devotional entry every faith has a corresponding action. Hebrews 11 talks about people in the bible who were faithful and acted upon it. It was said in Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God. Similar to the sick lady, she was there in the crowd and had faith that Jesus can heal her, and she touched His garment and really believed that she could be healed.
So in our daily lives do you think if we give our 50% on the things we do everyday shows that we have faith in God? Giving anything less than your 100% means that you doubt that God cant give you what you need. All he wants is that when you face your trials that you to give it your 100%. Even if you think that your trials are so big that it can never be done, just do your 100% and God will give you enough strength to overcome it. That is living by faith, when you give everything you have to God and you trust that he will be with you all the way through.
Additional verse: James 2:16-17
-Kuya
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