"Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval." -Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." -James 2:14-26 (NASB)
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." -Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." -Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Introduction:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is quoted as saying, "Faith without works is not faith at all, but a simple lack of obedience to God." We are called to have faith, but also to act on our faith. We can choose to believe, but we cannot stop at believing. As the book of James reminds us, even the demons can believe. We need to be sure our faith in God is put to work in the world for His glory!
We can begin by having faith. With our faith rooted in God, His Word, and His teachings, we have a foundation that can help ensure the best outcomes. As we go through the week, we can consider faith, how faith can grow, and the influence of faith and commitment to God as we prepare for works that bring God's light and glory to the world!
Sunday:
Hebrews reminds us that faith is being confident in what we hope for, even if it is not seen. We can have faith in God, His teaching, His Son, and the redemption offered through His Son. As we learn and develop a relationship with God, our faith can grow. We can feel His presence and see His work in our lives. God is waiting for a deeper relationship with each of us, but it is up to us to seek God!
*Do you make time to develop a deeper relationship with God? If so, what do you do? If not, when can you set aside time to read the Bible, pray, and get to know God on a deeper, personal level?
*How can getting to know God and Jesus help your faith to grow?
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
Monday:
We are reminded in James that we are to have both faith and works. If we believe and have faith, but do not act on it, then we are not using our faith. Our faith should be one of action. We should stand up for truth and stand against injustice. We should show God's love as we demonstrate compassion, empathy, and care for all those we meet. Our works do not always have to be big deeds. God can use even the smallest interactions we have with others. While we may be "doing" the good, our intent ought to be to glorify God and reveal Him through our acts.
*How do your words and actions demonstrate your faith?
*What could you do to help others see your faith through your words and actions?
*How do your works glorify God?
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
Tuesday:
As we consider our faith and works, we want to be sure that we do not become too focused on doing good deeds. For as it says in James, we need faith and works. We cannot be saved simply by being good or doing good. We must also accept Jesus and the redemption God offers through Him. We need to have believe and accept Jesus as our Savior, have faith, and do good. Our plans and acts in life need to include all three of these!
*Consider your salvation. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, consider praying and inviting Jesus to save you from your sin.
*Reflect on your faith. How can you deepen your faith?
*Reflect on your works. How do your actions relate to your faith?
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
Wednesday:
To balance our faith and works, we need to listen to God. It is difficult to know His will if we do not take time to talk with and listen to God. If we allow ourselves to become consumed with good deeds and keeping busy, our effectiveness for God will not be at its fullest. Even if we are busy working within the church, we can become too focused on the work and lose sight of the reason!
*Take time to pray and talk to God. Ask Him to help guide your actions.
*What can you do to be sure your faith and works are aligned with God's will in your life?
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
Thursday:
Our faith and works are not for ourselves, but for the glory of God. Because of this, we need to work for God. As Colossians reminds us, we need to do all things in God's name and for His glory. We can consider our works as service to God and praise to Him for all that we have in our lives. We can share God's blessings through our words and deeds!
*How does doing deeds for God change how you approach what you are doing?
*How can you make your works a form of praise and thanksgiving to God?
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
Friday:
I have a friend that often talks about our light. She refers to our actions, whether big or small, as ways of showing light. Sometimes it may seem as if the world is trying to cover or extinguish our light. However we need to rely on God for the strength to continue to do His will. Jesus also reminds us that we have a light to shine in the world. God can fuel our light so we can help guide others to Him!
*What do you think others see or think when they experience your actions and hear your words?
*What can you do to be a light for God, even when the darkness of the world threatens that light?
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.
Saturday:
Doing good is not always easy. There are times when we might just want the easy way to get through things. At other points in our lives we may be worn down, tired, and burnt out. The world can be overwhelming if we try to go it on our own, but we don't have to do it all by ourselves! We have God with us. When we turn to God, we can do good for all people as Galatians reminds us!
*Be sure to take time with God so He can rejuvenate and restore you. As you spend time with God, what will you tell God? What will you ask Him?
*As God rejuvenates and restores you, what is He calling you to do? How can you do good for all people in your life (even in small, everyday acts)?
Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to continue to grow in my faith and help me to act according to Your will in my life. Please allow others to see Your glory through me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.