JAMES 2:14

JAMES 2:14 - 26

DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007

5,000 MILE CHECK UP

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:14 - 26 (NKJV)

A NOTE FROM RON - Most of the time I choose--at random--passages from Scripture without a particular reason. There are times when I feel that God has led me to choose a passage needed by someone who might use these devotions. Occasionally, I like to do a series that covers every verse of a Book of the Bible so that the devotions can also be used as an aid in Bible Study. Recently I did such a series on the First Epistle of John. These can be found in the ARCHIVES of Prayer and Devotions. I like to choose Books of the Bible that are less often read and/or studied. This is the sixth devotion of a series on the Book of James. It is my hope that these words may be an instrument of God in helping you to draw nearer to Him.

Years ago it was customary, when you purchased a new car, to take it back to the dealer for a 5,000 mile check up. I knew a man who had a beautiful Lincoln. He drove the car for ten years and never took it in for that 5,000 mile check up. When asked, "Why," his response was a simple one, "The car does not have 5,000 miles on it." He drove the car to Church every Sunday and maybe on a Special Occasion. The distance to the Church was one mile, so he put two miles on the car every Sunday. People wondered why he had such a nice car and did not use it. During the ten years, he owned several pick up trucks and would drive them until they were almost beyond repair.

In many congregations there is a person who is always at Worship, who faithfully gives a contribution, and is present for work projects for the building and grounds. People observe him/her and say to one anther, what a wonderful Christian he/she is; what a strong faith he/she has. They may not know that he/she has not enough miles of faith use to qualify for a 5,000 mile check up. He proudly wears his faith on Sunday, but the rest of the week, faith is in the garage, and he has a different image. He is he one who ignores the needs of others, as he says, "The Lord helps them who help themselves" or "I worked hard all my life to get what I have; that person can do the same." This person is always willing to tell someone else what to do, but is not willing to help that person do it.

The faith of this man and the Lincoln owned by the other man have only one common positive feature. The faith and the Lincoln got these two to church every Sunday, and there is hope that on one of these Sundays they would hear the message of "Faith without works is dead." An automobile is of little use unless it is used more than on Sunday morning. Faith is of little use unless it is used more than on Sunday Morning.

If Abraham would have had this man’s faith, would he have taken the steps to sacrifice his son? Can you imagine being faced with that decision? Some people find it difficult to keep God’s Name Holy, let alone face a decision such as confronted Abraham.

Maybe we should treat our faith at least as well as we do our car. When we detect something wrong, or in today’s cars get a message from the car computer, we take it in for a checkup. Many people take their car in for service and a check up every three to five thousand miles. When is the last time you have had your faith in for a check up, or haven't you used your faith 5,000 miles yet? Maybe your faith needs a 5,000 mile CHECK UP. Mine does, over and over again.

WE PRAY: LORD, in your Holy Word you tell us that faith can move mountains. Sometimes my faith is so weak that I either forget or don’t take time to thank you for my daily Blessings. Send your Holy Spirit upon me that I might receive Power to believe and then to live that belief. AMEN.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Give yourself your own 5,000 mile faith check up. Review your activities of the last day. Were there times that you hid your faith, and instead of speaking out, you kept silent? If so, take it to the Lord in prayer.