What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:14
Have you ever met a fair-weather fan? You know the type. It’s the guy who talks a good game, but leaves early when the weather gets bad or the team isn’t playing their best.
You know a true, die-hard fan when you meet one. This is the person who tailgates no matter the weather, stays until the end to sing the alma mater, and would decorate the house in team colors if his spouse would let him.
You can tell how serious someone is about Jesus the same way you can tell how serious someone is about a sports team. In both cases, our actions speak louder than words. We can say we love Jesus, but if our love for Jesus doesn’t change how we live, how much do we really love Him?
James 2:14-26 challenges us to show our faith by what we do. Faith and works go hand in hand. Before we met Jesus, we were dead. When we asked Him to be lord of our lives, we came alive.
Salvation is a starting point, not a destination. Our faith grows as we read the Bible, pray, and continue coming to church. As Jesus works in us, He begins to work through us. We begin to think different things, and do different things. Jesus changes the way we look at other people, giving us a desire to serve others and tell people about Him.
Too many Christians go through life as fair-weather fans. It feels like something is missing because it is. Only when we’re willing to put our faith into action will we experience the thrill of Jesus working through us. Reflect on these questions: Do you feel like you are you going through the motions? Has God been asking you to do something that you have been ignoring? What’s one way you can bring your actions more in line with what you believe?