James 2:18

Verse of the Day Devotion. James 2:18

“But someone may well say, you have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” – James 2:18

James here, in our focus verse, is linking the ideas of faith and works with the purpose of laying out what real faith is. In the first chapter we read, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” James 1:22-24. It is so easy to have an exalted opinion of ourselves. To think, I am a good person because I got to Church and bible studies, and I spend time in memorizing scriptures. Yes, these are good things, but are we doing what it says? The act of hearing the word without doing what it says is a way of deceiving ourselves. We think we are in better shape than we really are. We are  not acknowledging the truth about ourselves. And so, we need to be the doers of the word. Paul made this clear when he said, “for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified.” Romans 2:13. And that was the mistake that the Jewish people were making. They thought, ‘well, we have the law of Moses.’ Paul said, No, that isn’t enough. You have to keep the law of Moses.

Now, we come to chapter two. In this section, many think Paul and James are in conflict regarding their teachings. Paul teaches that salvation is through faith, faith alone. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. Then James asks, can faith save? The answer is yes, faith can save. But it takes a true faith. We must ensure the faith we have is real. For when we do it will be manifested by our works. In other words, to just say you have faith is not enough, for faith on its own is useless because it is a dead faith. “In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:17. No one is really walking in faith if there are no works associated with it. If we are truly walking in faith, our works are going to be manifested to the world, showing our faith to be alive and real.

James then gives an example of what he was telling them. “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:15-17. What profit is there if a man says he has faith, and he doesn’t have works? Can that kind of faith save him? No, it can’t. If a brother or sister is naked, or is destitute of daily food, and you say to them, depart in peace, be warmed, and filled; but yet you don’t give them any clothes or food; what good are our words? They can’t make themselves warm or take away their hunger. Under these examples of nakedness and hunger, he comprehends all the calamities of human life, which may be relieved by the help of others as food and raiment contain all the ordinary supports and comforts of life. How many people today will only be casual friends, where the most you can get out of them are, ‘God bless you, Christ help you.’ They can’t fill their stomach without works, for words only are useless. Just as faith without works are useless.

Now we come to our focus verse. “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’ James 2:18. It isn’t only the declaration of our faith. It’s the declaration of our faith that has something behind it. And the proof behind it is the works we do. Again, the works don’t save us. They only prove that we have true faith, and this does save us. And if we don’t have works that are corresponding to what we are declaring, then we do not have saving faith, just the declaration.  Simply verbal affirmation is not enough, and it never will be.

Pastor Chuck Smith, who founded Calvary Chapel before his death in 2013, put it this way. “Now a lot of people made mistakes, going forward, and saying the sinner’s prayer and then going away and living the same kind of life doing the same kind of thing. They say, “Oh yeah, I was saved. I went forward and I said the sinner’s prayer.” No, no, the sinner’s prayer isn’t going to save you. It is a living faith in Jesus Christ that brings about actual changes in your life and the proof is in the works, the proof of your faith. Your works have to be in accordance, in harmony with what you are declaring to be true.”

Now, I want to encourage us all to examine our lives and see if there is any time we profess faith without works, which is the validation of our faith. If you find this, then pray that God will help you make the changes needed to make it right. God loves us and is ready to help us through this. The question that is most relevant is, are we ready to change?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, President and Founder of True Devotion Ministries.

James 2:18

Verse of the Day: James 2:18

“But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” – James 2:18 

It is easy to tell someone you are, let’s say a computer expert, but when they ask you to assist them with a relatively simple task, like printing a document, you have no idea.  So, you hit a couple of keys and tell them to reboot, and all will be well.  When the computer comes up and it still does not work, they begin to think you are not what you claim to be.  Then when they see the printer is powered off, and then power it up it prints just fine, they know you are not.

The same thing can be true regarding our faith.  Many people proclaim to be Christians, but their lives and focus tell another story.  Remember what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”  Matthew 7:21. We can call Him Lord all we want, but if we do not live as if He is, then do we really believe it?  Do our priorities have His will first, or ours?  Are we All-In with Christ, or only partially in?  The proof of our faith is our works.  If there is no works, then is their really faith?  James says no in a very definitive way.  “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:17. And people will notice it.

If you really have faith, then show that faith by living that faith.  The world is looking for reality.  Walking and talking your faith shows that it is real.  Talking alone will have them question it. William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 1:22

Verse of the Day: James 1:22

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22

This is a very important verse.  There are many people who merely go to church, listen to a good sermon, read the bible verses with the Pastor, sing the songs during worship time, then go home.  There is nothing wrong with any of these things.  The problem is when this is all there is.

If, when we go to church or a bible study, there is no change in our lives that cause us to be evermore devoted to God, then the question I have is, what is our purpose for going?  James is very clear here.  It is not enough to just hear His word; it must become who we are.  Jesus said it this way.  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus basically said that if you do not do His will as seen in His Word, you really do not know Him, you only know about Him.

I want to challenge us to look at how we approach God and His Word.  Do we take it seriously?  Do we allow it to change us into true servants of God?  Examine your ways and if you find yourself falling short, go to God and confess it, and then submit yourself fully to Him.  Take His word and let it change you.  You will find there is no other life worth living.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 4:17

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 4:17

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” – James 4:17

In my study of this verse, there are a couple valid ways to look at it, therefore I will present both.

First, that we make decisions about our lives, what we will do, where we will go, based on our own feelings and desires and not based on what God desires of us.  We make these big plans for our lives, visiting certain people, traveling to desired destinations, making this amount of money.  However, is this what God has called us to?  We decide on these things without looking at what God wants.  The idea here is that if we know what God wants of us and we do not pursue it because it is not what we want, then we who know nothing of the future seizes control from the one who does. This is seen from the previous verses. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that. But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16. We know our calling, but we ignore it, or put it off, until we ourselves are ready.  We must spend serious time with God in prayer to be sure of what we are to do.  If we do not, and we follow our own desires rather than His, then we may find ourselves in sin.

Second, if we see a need or something we know is the right thing to do, and we refuse to do it.  Cotton Mather, a New England Puritan minister in the late 1600s to early 1700s, adopted this idea as a principle of action, saying ‘that the ability to do good in any case imposes an obligation to do it.’  The idea for him was “if he understands what his duty is; if he has the means of doing good to others, then he can promote a good cause; for example relieve the distressed, the poor, the prisoner, the oppressed; send the gospel to other lands, wipe away the tears from those who mourn or grieve, speak out in favor of those qualities that are positive and Godly, then he is under obligation to do it.”  If we choose not to get involved and we just ignore the good we can do, then we may find ourselves in sin.

As I said above, I believe both of these ideas are valid ways of looking at our focus verse.  Both allude to the idea of knowing the right thing to do but refusing to do it for selfish reasons.  If we have the means to help someone, then we should do it.  Remember the words of Jesus, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 7:12.  If we are in need and a brother or sister ignores us even when they know our situation, how would we feel?

In closing, too often we see sin as something we do, such as stealing, lying or murdering, however we forget that sin is also something we refuse to do, such as helping the poor or ignoring the oppressed.  Both types are wrong and ultimately sin.  Let’s remember that God has called us to love everyone, and love is more than a feeling, it is actions as well.  I encourage us all, myself included, to ensure that our plans are based on God’s will and not our own, and that if we see a need, we do all we can to meet that need.  God will see this and reward us.  “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.” Proverbs 19:17.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 1:5

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 1:5

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5

In order to get the major context of this verse, we need to look at the three verses prior to this.  “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4.  Now, this verse can be used for any situation wisdom is needed, however, when you see the words in the above verses, ‘your faith produces endurance’ it makes sense what James is focusing on.

Now, the wisdom that James is no doubt referring to is that wisdom which helps the Christian get through these times of trials, for there is probably no time the Christian needs the wisdom from God more than in how to bear up under the ordeal they are suffering.  This wisdom is essentially understanding that for us to be stronger in our faith knowing God is totally in control, it must be tested so that any area where we do not grasp this truth can be strengthened.  And the stronger it is, the more endurance we have to continue through it.  I believe this is why God does not always deliver us from difficult situations.  To paraphrase Francis Schaeffer on this topic, ‘too often we ask God to deliver us from our trials, when we should be asking Him to bring us through our trials.’

Part of this wisdom is seen in James 1:2.  “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” How can we rejoice, counting it all joy to suffer these trials?  By realizing the following.  1) That God is in control, and He would not have had you go through this if there was not a good reason, 2) Because our faith in God strengthens as we see His help and support though it, and 3) We are glorifying God by trusting Him that we will make it through.  It is interesting that in countries where persecution is at its worst, the church is growing and flourishing.  Here in the United States, where persecution is much, much less, we see more people leaving the faith, churches losing members and closing their doors.  Kind of makes sense.

If we are enduring hard times, we can pray to God for the specific wisdom we need.  We all, as Christians, have wisdom imparted to us.  One is the knowledge we need Him.  Another is how to treat each other.  In fact, the bible is a book full of wisdom. And when we read and study His word, we gain much wisdom and knowledge.  However, this wisdom may not be fully understood, and therefore God must strengthen it in order to equip us to do His will, no matter what that is.  Most times, through trials, our understanding of His word increases.

So, when we find ourselves in a time of trial, consider it a good thing, for your growth and the Kingdom of God.  We must see our times of trials as a needed time that will equip us for the times that are coming.  For when the end-times arrive, it will be incredibly difficult.  When that time comes, we should consider it a time of joy, for we know His return and our deliverance is just around the corner.  And when things seem too hard to handle, pray to God for His strength and wisdom to help us through.  God is able and willing.  All we have to do is ask it of God.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 4:7

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 4:7

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

This is a very familiar verse to most, and one that is incredibly wise.  It definitely deals with our Christian walk and what we find important.  I say that because that which we give our attention to is that which we find important to us.

So, the first part of our focus verse tells us to submit to God.  This is not a partial submission that James is speaking of.  It does not mean we submit to those things we agree with only.  This means we are to submit to God in everything.  He calls us to a humble life before Him. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” James 4:10. God knows better than anyone else what is best for us.  Sometimes He will call us to a time of rest and peace.  Other times, He will call us to a place of difficulty, where there is persecution and humiliation.  It is easy to submit to Him when times are easy.  However, we must also submit to Him in the hard times.  Saul is an excellent example of a hard calling but also total submission.  When God told Ananias to go to Saul, we read “But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” Acts 9:13-14.  “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.’” Acts 9:15-16.  Saul, later known as Paul, knowing that this would be a hard life, one filled with suffering, submitted completely to God, knowing that what He allowed was the best for himself and anyone he ministers to and with.

While we yield to God in all things at all times, we are never to yield to the enemy in anything.  In whatever way he comes to us, we must resist and oppose him.  There is nothing good he has to offer us. Whatever he says will always be in opposition to the plan of God.  He is destined for eternal torment, and he will do whatever he can to take as many as possible with him.  He will offer things that sound so good.  His ways are deceitful, for he promises good and delivers death.  We must not argue with him, but with strength and conviction, resist him.  And the best tool to resist him is to know God and His voice.  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” Study His word, pray without ceasing.  Become so close to Him that there is no way we can mistake the enemy’s voice for God’s.  We must resist the devil through our submission to God.  His Spirit will guide us into all truth.   And when we do resist him, he will flee from us.  This is a promise of God.  For true resistance of the devil comes through submission to God.  He cannot defeat true believers who have committed their lives to God.

Therefore, live a life of total submission to God.  It is the only way to live. William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 1:13

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 1:13

“Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” – James 1:13

Trials come and trials go.  It seems we all go through trials occasionally, some more than others.  Sometimes we consider trials as times when things do not go the way we want them to.  However, we should always remember two important verses and take them to heart.  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Difficult times are often ways God can bring about a good that is best received in difficult situations.  One example is helping us learn to trust Him.  The second reason is so we can comfort others.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.  There are times when we go through trials so that we can be comforted by Him and thus be able to comfort others in the same way.  In both of these, we can be thankful to God for these trials because He will bring a good out of it for us, and possibly bring a good out of it for another because we will then be able to comfort them in the same way were comforted.

But one thing we should never do is believe we are being tempted by God in this trial.  Now, we may never say we are tempted by God but our response to it can come across that way.  Let’s use for example the trial of losing our job.  This is not an easy thing to go through, especially if you really loved what you were doing.  Many friends you made there that you may never interact with anymore.  A good salary which was more than required to make it month to month is now gone.  First of all, God does not tempt us to do evil, just as He cannot be tempted to do evil.  We may get angry and say things we never should say to anyone.  We may harbor hate in our hearts for those who caused, or we assume caused this setback to happen.  He probably allowed this to occur for a good we, at this time, cannot see.  However, it is imperative that we trust God that He knows everything, and He means only good to come from it.

If we do not trust Him, then we may get carried away with our anger or hurt that we will tempt ourselves to sin.  “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” James 1:14. We may hold anger against people, which is wrong in and of itself, however, if we make assumptions about others which are false and are angry at others for essentially nothing, then we are sinning.  We cannot say God caused these bad things to happen for any other purpose but to bring a good about.  To think or say. “I am angry God because of what you did” is totally wrong.  We are angry because we do not trust our good and loving God.  Everything He does or allows is for good.  We must see things this way.  And if we do, then we can say instead ‘God, I trust you and look forward to what you have in store for me.’  No accusations, no temptation, no sin. And an added benefit, contentment that brings peace.  Glory to God.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 1:2-3

Verse of the Day: James 1:2-3

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” – James 1:2-3 

Paul says something here that seems to run contrary to the way most people think.  Count it all ‘joy’ when we experience trials?  This does not come naturally.  It is much easier to be sad and downcast.  However, it is important to see that the joy is not because we are suffering, but because of the strength that comes from patience.  And as Paul said, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance”.

God allows us to go through trials to build up our endurance so that we can remain steadfast in our walk; to stand against those things contrary to God and His ways.   The more we see God bringing us through these tough times, the more endurance we will have to stay true to Him no matter what we face.  And we will need this endurance as anti-Christian attitudes continue to grow as we get closer to His return.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 1:2

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 1:2

“Consider it all joy, my brothers, and sisters, when you encounter various trials.” – James 1:2

James says something here that seems to run contrary to the way most people think.  Count it all joy when we experience trials.  This does not come naturally.  It is much easier to be frustrated and downcast.  Why do we have to go through these trials? Why doesn’t He just deliver me and allow me to be comfortable? However, it is important to see that the joy is not because we are suffering. The Greek text differs from the English translation in that James suddenly commands the messianic Jewish community to consider their condition, going through trials, as an occasion for joy.

It is Important we see this ‘joy, not as a weird way to bring ourselves through trials, but as an act of faith. Instead of looking at the trial, James is instead encouraging them to look through the trial to its potential outcome. Let us look at some examples of what James is telling his listeners.

Paul considered his trial before King Agrippa an opportunity for defense, preaching, and potential release. “Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.” Acts 26:2-3.

Paul and Timothy urged believers to consider others better than themselves as Christ did not consider equality something to be grasped. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bondservant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8.

Paul considered his former glory an actual loss “But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8.

Abraham considered God faithful and powerful enough to enable Sarah to conceive. “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11.

Moses considered suffering for Christ more valuable than the treasures of Egypt. “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26.

The author of 2 Peter wanted his readers to consider the patience of the Lord as salvation. “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you.” 2 Peter 3:14-15.

Just as the believers in the above examples reacted to trials, James urges the messianic Jewish community to consider their trials an occasion for joy as they look through their trials to their glorious, sanctifying result. And we should do the same. We should not focus on our trials but look beyond them to the rewards we have waiting for us because of our faith in Christ. God would not allow these trials to come to us if He did not have a good purpose for it. And if we persevere to the end, we have a wonderful reward. “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

 

James 2:18

Verse of the Day Devotion.  James 2:18

“But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith is proven by work.” – James 2:18

James here is laying out an argument that our faith is seen through our works. He starts with two  questions. “What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” James 2:14. The ‘good’ or ‘benefit’ of faith without works in the first question then becomes a question of salvation in the second. He brings out a specific example. “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed, and be filled, and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” James 2:15-16. These two verses apply to the original question in fourteen, for he uses the same question. ‘what use is it’ which ties them together. John in his first letter gives the same idea but with a specific answer. “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed,  and truth.” 1 John 3:17-18. The question ‘how does the love of God abide in him?’ at the end of 17 is rhetorical. The answer is essentially, it cannot possibly dwell in him. Theologian Adam Clarke states. “Hardheartedness and God’s love never meet together, much less can they be associated.” John, later in his first letter, makes this idea clear. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 john 4:7-8. Then we read in the next verse. “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:17. This verse introduces the moral aspect of this idea. He in essence is saying that faith by itself without love for others is a dead faith, for the love of God is not present in us.

James then asks another question, which I believe he may have heard from a doubter in the faith. In our focus verse we read, “But someone may well say, You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith is proven by work.” James 2:18. Here, the doubter is disconnecting faith and works. We see this today as well. Some will say, ‘there are some in our church who go out and do good things like feeding and clothing the poor, but for me I go to church to prove my faith.’ I have heard this on several occasions. They believe that some have the gift of faith while others have the gift of works. They may say, “It’s fine for you to have your gift of works and that you care for the needy. But that isn’t my gift.” James then gives an answer to the doubter. “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.” James 2:19-23. He tells them that they believe in God, and that God is one in three persons. But demons believe this as well and are condemned. Mental belief is one thing, spiritual belief is quite another. Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness, but through the proof of his work of taking Isaac with him and putting him on the alter to be killed, he proved this faith was perfect. He had faith that Isaac would come back with him. “And Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you.” Genesis 22:5. Note the words, ‘and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you.’ He had faith that Isaac would come back with Him, and therefore acted accordingly. And James closes this section with, “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.” James 2:23.

Too many Christians believe that if they have faith, at least their definition of faith, they are saved and they do not need to do anything else. But what God is calling for is a faith that proves itself by acting accordingly, by doing the works that show the love of God for all is manifested in us. Without this, our faith is worthless and actually dead.  

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.