Faith and Works

I've been studying James 2:14-26 today. It speaks of faith and works. I struggle with that. My daughter and I were talking about faith and works and she said that if our works are in our flesh it is nothing. It is like the wood, hay and stubble we read about in I Corinthians 3--it will be burned up.
So, works should be a byproduct of faith. It should be the fruit of salvation. So many of us today have a faith that is useless. God wants our faith to be active, growing. The only way that happens is to be obedient.
Faith in Christ is invisible, but works makes our faith visible.
James asks the question, what good is faith without works? He reminds us that believing there is a God is different from believing in God and even further, believing God.
James speaks of a faith that is after salvation. This is a faith that proves itself. If I walk into a dark room, I can believe that if I flip that light switch that the room will be flooded with light. But, if I continue to stand there, in the dark, what good is my faith. I must put my faith into action.
He gives two examples of people who put their faith into action--Abraham and Rahab.
Abraham believed the promise God had given him. He knew that in some way, somehow, Isaac must walk back down that mountain. But, Abraham, through faith, was obedient to God by offering him on that altar.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. Somehow she had faith in God. Her faith was manifested by hiding the Jewish spies and showing them a safer way back to their camp.
It makes me think of how I live today. Some days you can see my faith...other days I can't seem to find my faith.

My family has had a very difficult journey for the past two years. We are parched and broken from this fallen world. But, God is giving us relief through His WORD. Our thirst becomes quenched and our hunger is removed as we take in this Water and Bread of Life.

Thank You, Father, for loving us even when our faith stumbles. Thank You for picking us back up, taking our hand and leading us through this life.

I love You, LORD.



Sheryl