It made me see more clearly that the things that I wonder about in my life caused through people and circumstances, situations and happenings, seeing, hearing and thinking – they all have an answer in faith.
 |
| bibleportal.com |
After all, Jesus says in Matthew 25:31-46 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
Jesus makes no bones about it either here is a clear statement that it is action that is recognized.
Someone in our group said something in the discussion like: “Sometimes there are people that tell other people’s stories because they don’t have any of their own. If we don’t have our own stories about how we needed to rely on God – how we never risked anything for Him and always played it safe – how we never had to depend on Him for anything – what kind of faith is that? What kind of testimony is that – and what will we say to Jesus when we meet Him?”
Well, it got me thinking… 1 Peter 1:6-7 says: So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
In chapter 2:17 James sums it up – “17 So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead”!
So, my approach to James changed. Suddenly I saw the book as a massive challenge to have radical faith rather than trying to get a “good balance” of faith and works. Suddenly the book was full of illustrations of circumstances where we should not live by natural rules, cultural norms or worldly values and expectations. It was rather a radical agenda for followers of Jesus to live by faith – which could only be done by letting faith drive our actions and behaviour. Here are some things that James points out for this radical “faith agenda” in the first couple of chapters of the book:
* When our faith is tested it produces patience
* We don’t receive anything unless we ask in faith
* Our own desires are not from faith
* Good gifts from above are from faith
* The anger of man is not from faith
* The righteousness of God is by faith
* Obeying the word of God is by faith
* Favouritism is not by faith
* The poor – having nothing to depend on other than faith - tend to be rich in faith
* Dependence on keeping the law for justification is not of faith
* Freedom and liberty are by faith
* Showing mercy comes from faith
* IF THERE IS NO ACTION THERE IS NO FAITH (Can faith be present without showing itself in some kind of action?)
It made me see more clearly that the things that I wonder about in my life caused through people and circumstances, situations and happenings, seeing, hearing and thinking – they all have an answer in faith. Big and small things, earth shattering catastrophes or simply annoying irritations – faith.
It also struck me that James develops his theme from Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 – 7 where He talks about earthly behaviours, which characterize those who belong to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus talks about a number of areas of life where the Father’s expectations are way above the world’s. All that He talks about derives from faith. Faith that is willing to risk being meek when the world would say attack! Faith that says “no” to what the flesh wants. Faith that carries on helping when everything else says stop. Faith that seeks righteousness and Godly “perfection”. Faith that is anchored in Jesus and endures dark and threatening storms. Faith that overcomes. Faith that believes enough to hear Jesus’ sayings and do them. Faith whose engine is compassion and love.
 |
| www.pinterest.com |
These thought and others have, as I say, come as a real challenge to me. In every / any situation what does faith say? As the song(s) say “Whose report will you believe”(and what action makes that “real”) …?
Author: Chris Pearson
May God bless and enrich your life
Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.
No comments:
Post a Comment