Morning Moments

JAMES Devotional Outline and Notes (cont(

I. Wisdom's Wealth 1:1-27
II. Worthwhile Works 2:1-26
A. Impartiality - without favoritism
B. Impertinence - without disrespect
C. Impervious - without being moved or affected 2:13-19

I use the word impervious because they are as the priest and Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan who were "unmoved" by the needs of the man who was lying in the street beaten and bleeding. They saw him but were impervious or unaffected by his condition. When we see others in dire straights and are able to help but simply say I will be praying for you, we have done no different that the priest and Levite.

We must Practice What We Preach!

Judgment is Coming

2:13. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

"Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" God's judgment is just and righteous and is without partiality. The issue here is not really works but faith or the lack of it. James makes it perfectly clear that the faith that saves is a faith that serves and not merely sees or spectates. Jesus went about "doing good" and that is what the faith life is all about BUT faith is the motivator and not flesh.
"I would love to help but I just can't." Oh really? Why not? No money? How about that speciality coffee you drank? No time? How about one hour a week? Our excuses just don't pan out! We could give up a golf game, a rod and reel, but the problem is never that we don't have the means - it's the faith that we lack.

Justification is Clear

2:17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

How easy it is to say "I believe." But it is the evidence of that belief or the lack thereof that negates or substantiates what we say. Remember the saying, "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying." Well it works the other way too - what you are not doing speaks so loudly that what you are saying means nothing.

True faith is alive and active and those who are truly justified before God will be justified (declared righteous) by people as they see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. Talk is cheap! Even the devil knows the truth but does not act upon the truth he knows!

BLESSINGS!