Faith by works

It seems that God is driving home one direct lesson to me right now. That is: "Show me your faith through your works." In church over the past several weeks, we've been talking about the Holy Spirit and the power that he gives to work for Christ (among his other attributes). Yesterday, our whole Sunday service was about missions and the missionaries we support. The crux of the message was to encourage financial support of missions through church giving, but for me talk about missions is always an encouragement to act. In fact, we did discuss being missionaries in our own home. Then, in my small group that meets Sunday evenings, we're studying James. Last night was the signature passage of James where he gets right down to his whole major point: James 2:14-20:

¹⁴What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

¹⁵If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

¹⁶and 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?

¹⁷Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

¹⁸But 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."

¹⁹You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

²⁰But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

OK - I think I'm starting to get it. Not that I didn't know all this before. I have, and I do. But, I need to be showing my faith by my works, not just through my knowledge alone.

So, God, here I am. Guide my works day-to-day. Today is an average simple day for me. Work, family time, sleep. What specific works can I do to show you my faith so that you may increase it?

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