“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead”
-James 2:8-16-
As I reflected on this passage from the book of James, I was drawn to the examples he used to give credibility to his argument that faith without works is dead. Abraham is often used as an example of one with a deep faith in God. Rahab too is counted among the faithful in Hebrews 11. What was interesting to me was that in both of these examples, the actions taken based on faith were life and death choices. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son to fulfill the will of God though he certainly could not have fully understood why such a sacrifice would be pleasing to God. Rahab, by saving the lives of the spies, put her own life at risk. If her actions had been discovered, she could easily have been killed, but she not only believed the promise of the spies, but believed in the God of Israel who they represented.
It is not difficult to say that we have faith. It is not difficult to believe that God can do “anything” as long as we don’t get too specific. It is easy to say “God is faithful.” It is not always easy to follow the leading of God’s Spirit when the outcome is not guaranteed. We will not all be called upon to act in faith at the peril of our own lives, though many in other countries do so every day. We should, however, be willing to exercise our faith. Faith is like a muscle that grows stronger every time it is pushed to its current limit.
In what area of your life do you need to “exercise” your faith? In your time of reflection, ask that question of the Lord and wait for His reply. Take some time to give praise to the mighty, loving and all-wise God in whom your faith rests.
Prayer
Lord, I trust in You. I long to know you more and rest in the assurance of your goodness, your power and your love for me. Give me courage to walk by faith in every circumstance of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Exercising our Faith | Devotionals | Altar Church
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