Faith In Action!

First of all – I want to give a huge shout out to all of the incredible volunteers who serve at the Jasper County Community Food Bank. I Love You all! I also want to congratulate the FB Board of Directors on the ground clearing ceremony – and the beginnings of the new building project…I know you are excited! You truly are the embodiment of James 2:18.

“…Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). It’s really quite simple. People are defined by what they do in life. A plumber plumbs, a racer runs (or drives for all you NASCAR fans), a carpenter builds, an electrician wires, a clerk sells, a postal person delivers mail, a painter paints, a mower mows, a teacher teaches, a manager manages, a writer writes, a preacher preaches, a policeman protects, a fireman fights fires, a fisherman fishes.

A doctor heals, a surgeon performs surgery, a ditch digger digs ditches, a surveyor surveys, a judge judges, a hunter hunts, a communicator communicates, a weightlifter lifts weights, a masseuse gives massages, a hair cutter cuts hair, a computer programmer programs computers, and a salesperson sells!

As human beings, we are defined by what we do – a simple truth. This is just as true in faith and community. Our lives of faith are more defined by how we live out our “faith” than by what we believe. In fact, according to the Bible, in James 2; if our actions do not bear witness to our faith, then we have no faith at all. It is in fact…dead, lifeless, cold, still, inanimate, useless, invalid, motionless, powerless, and devoid.

I am not trying to offend you; I am, in fact, trying to challenge all of us to Christ-like action. We are taught in the Word, and by Jesus himself mind you, that we will be revealed to this world as disciples of Jesus Christ if we have Love one for another, John 13:35. According to Jesus, the way we can be known as those who believe in and follow love, is by working in love.

Let’s look at this in a different way; because love is an incredibly misused word these days. The dictionary defines love as:

“a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person, to consider, tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. Love may apply to the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the regard of friends for each other, etc. A fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. An intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness.”

This is a tall order, I know, but it is the behavior that established our faith in Jesus Christ, who, throughout His life, treated others in this manner. So here is my point; if we confess to have faith in God, if we proclaim that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior…then our works must be that of Love…or we lie. How is this done?

Quite simply actually. When someone is hungry, we feed them. When someone is thirsty, we give them a drink. When someone is naked, we clothe them. When someone is alone, we visit them. If someone is different than us, we embrace them.

When people hurt us…love them, when people let us down…love them, when people arrive late…love them, if they betray us…love them, if they steal from us…love them, if they curse us…love them, if they look different than us…love them, if they dress different than us…love them, if they are always in need…love them, if they take advantage of us…love them, if they smell bad…love them, if they are addicted…love them, if they are immoral…love them, if they are poor…love them, if they are hopeless…love them, if they abuse us…love them, if they speak against us…love them, if they don’t go to church…love them, if they go to “that church” love them, if they are a friend…love them; but most important, if they are an enemy…LOVE THEM!

This is who Jesus was, and this is who we have been called to be; every day, every minute, no matter what. If we are not willing to do the work of love…then we do not know love. And according to the Bible…God Is Love.