Prayer
For 10 days of this study I’ve been sharing different things I do when I spend time with God. Think back through them and begin your time today with one of them or by just talking to God.
Scripture
James 2:20-26 But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Reactions
What does “dead faith” mean to you?
Have you heard of Abraham and Rahab?
Digging below the surface
To get the full effect of these verses, check out the details of these two individuals’ stories in other parts of the Bible.
Abraham – Genesis 22, Hebrews 11:17-19
Rahab – Joshua 2 and 6, Hebrews 11:31
How did these two people demonstrate their faith by their works?
Making it stick
Ask God to show you what part of your faith you are struggling to live out.
Is there something God is asking you to do that seems too hard?
Notes
God knows our hearts. When I say something, he knows even better than I do if it’s true. So he asks for my obedience. He wants me to trust that what he says is best and to demonstrate that by acting.
We can’t save ourselves. James isn’t saying that we can work hard enough to make God let us into heaven. Abraham and Rahab didn’t save themselves. They believed that God could save them. They believed God’s promises and lived like they believed them.
If I lived like I believed God’s promises, my life would change day by day. I would grow closer to him. I would reflect more of his light to the dark world. I would love holding nothing back. The broken places inside me would heal. Then when people looked at me, they would see Jesus. And they would know I believed him, even without my sermons.
Lord, I’ll be honest. I feel like living out my faith is a losing battle many days. The more I try to be consistent, the more discouraged I feel. Please help me not to focus on what I think are results but instead on just obeying moment by moment and trusting you for both results and feelings. I want a living faith that shines brightly to others, telling them you are worth it.