“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” – James 1:2, 3
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? – For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” – James 2:14, 26
The theme of our story…the One story…is faith. It is the thread that ties the whole thing together. It is not only our belief in God but the placing of our trust in Him. It is a relationship…a bond…a communion with One who loves us back. The Book of James is important in our story because he reminds us that faith is more than just believing in God. It is more than just giving lip service to a divine “other”. Faith is not just acknowledging an impersonal “higher power”. Faith is an interactive relationship that involves believing and listening and submitting and doing and…get the idea?
If you truly have faith in God it will get messy. Faith is when our relationship with God permeates every aspect of our lives. It becomes a driving force in every decision and directs our steps…even when it seems difficult. In fact, faith invites God, our loving Father, to intervene into our lives whenever He wants to. Faith gives God permission to get into your business…to stretch you…grow you…take you to your limits…”test” you. Why? Because that is what vital relationships look like! This is not just some horrible game that God plays in order to torture us. Like a cat playing with the mouse before it finishes it off. No, my fellow traveler, our God loves us and, therefore, He disciplines us and challenges us in order to grow us and strengthen us…not to torture us. It is the tough times…the trials in our lives that help determine where our heart is. It has always been that way in the One story. In Deuteronomy 8, God says through Moses that He let them wander in the desert so they would realize that they depend upon the provision of the LORD to meet their needs. Solomon said, “the LORD disciplines those He loves” (Proverbs 3:12).
When we encounter regular testing and challenges, it drives us to the LORD and strengthens our resolve. As James says above, it produces “steadfastness” in our faith. In other words, it strengthens your relationship with God. Faith is a belief that stands up no matter the circumstances. Faith doesn’t run from God during trials and hard times…it runs to Him!
Faith is also the living out of the things that we believe and cherish in our life with God. I like to say that faith is the “legs” to the things that we believe. James says that “faith without works is dead”. Belief in God that doesn’t change the way that you think, talk and behave is not faith! Do you believe in God? Sure. Most do. But, do you have faith in God? Do you have a relationship with your Creator that drives everything in your life?
Today, let your belief in the God who loves you make a difference in your life! Let your life show the faith that lives in your heart. When we “know” Jesus it changes everything! Jesus said,
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
Today, let your story be one grounded in a visible Faith!