Tag: God looks at the heart

Faith ____ Works

James 2

James 2 14 NIV

In Chapter two of James he continues to tell us that we need that Humble Pride and we are not to judge others in partiality. We must not look at others and decide that God isn’t going to use them because we don’t like the way they look. Just as we may turn away from a book when the cover is worn and frayed, we occasionally turn away from people when we see they are worn and frayed. The thing we must remember is sometimes the books, and people, that are worn the most are worn from use not from neglect. When we look at someone we should seek the potential that our LORD sees. When Samuel went to anoint the king he would have overlooked David but God was looking at David’s heart.

In the same way that we tend to judge by what we see on the surface James tells us that our faith is to be more than mere words.

When you look at Faith ______ Works, what would you place in that blank?

  • Faith or works
  • Faith VS. works
  • Faith and works

We know that we are cleansed of our sins by faith (not by works), so why would James ask in 2:14, “Can faith with no works save you?” Do Paul and James have a long-standing disagreement on this matter? No, they agree beautifully! James is not saying that we are saved by our works but that our works are evidence of our faith. In verses 15 and 16 he says that empty words mean nothing. For example, if I simply say I am feeding my dogs regularly, yet I give them no food; eventually they starve. They will not survive on my words or good intentions alone. The same is true of our faith. Luke just told us last week of that “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 11 that were all shown to be faithful and that faith was made evident in the works they did for God.

James says if we have true faith it will be shown by our actions! He says in verse 19 that if all it took was a belief in the truth that God is one then even the demons would be okay, because they believe and shudder. Although they believe, their actions and their allegiance are not inline with God’s plan. They understand truth but choose to do their own thing. We need to understand truth AND let that truth move us to action for God!

James says that we need a Faith that Works!

If our faith is not causing us to work for God we must ask ourselves, “Do I truly have faith, or do I have empty words?”

-Bill Dunn

 

Inside not Outside

Philippians 3

Philippians 3 3b

My alarm went off for the 5th time that morning and I smashed the snooze button once again. It was 9:45! Alarmed I shot up and showered for 30 seconds dressed into my only clean clothes at the time and out the door I went. Church started at 10. Thank goodness its only five minutes away.

My clothes at the time were gym shorts and a FUEL T-shirt. I had said to myself “Meh, God looks at the heart”. Somehow knowing there was going to be someone that would say something about the way I dressed to Sunday morning service. I walked in and after the service was over, I had several people walk up to me and tell me I shouldn’t wear those kinds of clothes to Sunday services.

Has this happened to you? It can be frustrating I know. After all God does look at our heart. In Philippians 3 Paul puts it this way.  “…. for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, ….”. Paul is saying that our physical appearance is not what labels us as Christians, but the spirit of God that is within us. Producing fruit from that spirit is what really matters.

Having raggedy clothes on for church may not be the best idea I’ll admit. But when it comes down to it they aren’t what really matters.

My challenge to you is to pray for God’s spirit to change how our hearts look today. Then maybe one day you will feel confident enough to wear raggedy clothes to church.

-Jesse Allen