Faith at Work
January 13,
2013
James 1:19-25
Understand this, my dear brothers
and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get
angry. Human anger does not produce the
righteousness God desires. So get rid of
all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has
planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must
do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey,
it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and
forget what you look like. But if you
look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it
says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Faith changes the way we live. How many of us have ever been angry? How many of us have been angry for little or
no reason? Anger doesn't produce the
life God has called us to live. Faith isn't angry. Faith leads us to
compassion. Faith seeks
understanding. Faith listens and
responds as God listens and responds. So
let’s get rid of all the stuff that pulls us away from the life God has called
us to live. Let’s look beyond anger and find compassion. Let’s live a righteous life.
James is clear. Listening isn't enough. Faith takes action. Faith is seen and known. Faith produces fruit. When we claim faith but don’t act we look a
little silly. It’s like looking in the
mirror and forgetting what you look like.
It’s hearing the Word of God at church, agreeing with it, and leaving
without putting any of God’s Word into practice. Here is the thing. Listening and obeying God’s Word has the
power to save our souls. It sets us
free. It brings blessing into our
lives. Faith at work connects us to God
in meaningful ways every day. Our lives
expand. We understand more. We are able to act rightly when before we
might have let other things, like anger, control our actions. We are able to make a significant and holy
contribution to this world. Let’s put
our faith to work.
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