Day 303 – James – Introduction
“Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith, others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” James 2:18 NLT
Wherever we look, we are inundated by a flood of extravagant claims like “Miraculous!” “Revolutionary!”, and “the greatest ever”. The messages leap out at us. Products assure us that they are new, improved, fantastic, and capable of changing our lives. But talk is cheap, and soon we realize that these promised claims are hollow.
Christians also make great claims like, “Jesus is the answer!” “Believe in God!”, and “Follow me to church!” But aren’t we sometimes contradicting these statements with our actions? While professing to trust God and to be His children, we can cling to the world and its values.
With an energetic style and crisp, well-chosen words, James confronts this conflict head-on. It is not enough to talk the Christian faith, he says; we must live it! The proof of the reality of a person’s faith is a changed life. A faith built on an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ will inevitably produce good deeds. As you read through this book, look for the practical advice to live a life for Christ.
Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us the difference between worldly deeds and deeds of faith in this book. May what we proclaim align with our actions and reflect in our lives. Amen.
