How is your faith demonstrated? What are you doing each day to show your faith in God? Are you showing your faith in your works and actions? Can you rightfully be accused of being a follower of Jesus Christ? Do you really have faith, or do you just say you do?
Are we not all familiar with someone who has said they believe in something, but they are really only placating someone else? We’ve heard someone say they believe in a political candidate until they are no longer in the race, then they reverse and say they never really believed in them anyway. We’ve heard someone say they had 100% belief their favorite sports team was going to win the championship that year, yet when they lose badly, they say they were afraid that would happen. Have we made these types of statements and reversals ourselves?
Again, how is our faith? Do we really have faith in Jesus Christ? Or, are we just saying we do because our family and friends say they do? Our faith is demonstrated through our works, actions, and behaviors. It is demonstrated in our attitudes. It is demonstrated in how we react to something bad happening. Is our faith true or are we just going through the motions?
Jesus tells us there is no gray area—we are either for Him or against Him (Luke 11:23). In our politically correct culture, we have become accustomed to standing in the gray area, making every attempt to not offend anyone. Jesus says we can’t stand in the gray area or on the line between two sides. We must make a choice.
The simple truth is, we demonstrate which side we are on by our actions. It’s obvious in how we treat others, our speech, our works, and our choices. It’s as obvious as though we were wearing a uniform—not a simple badge, but a bold uniform that clearly identifies us as one or the other. Not only is God always watching, but so are all those we come in contact with.
James tells us simple belief is not enough. He goes on to say that demons believe and shudder. Why not? They know what will happen to them in the end. Do we want to end up with them? I hope not. So, when are we going to make the choice to demonstrate our faith? Our faith must be manifested in works or it is dead and of no use to us or God.
I pray we all decide to show our faith in our works. I pray each of us chooses to put on the uniform of a Jesus disciple. I pray we boldly claim to be His followers through our deeds. Choose to show your faith. Serve others. Speak godly blessings on others. Be the positive example for others to emulate. Faithworks.
James 2:18-19 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.