“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day: stay warm and eat well” – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So, you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” James 2: 14-17
“Faith is a deep-seated belief in the existence of God that radically alters the way you live your life.” (Paul Tripp)
This statement speaks volumes to me about what it means to be a Christian. Having faith in God does not only mean believing that He exists, it means that our lives are totally transformed by God’s grace. The natural response of our hearts should be to put our faith into action, through good deeds. It’s important to note that good deeds are the fruit of our salvation, rather than a means by which we can earn it. Real genuine faith leads to radical change! Every area of our life should be impacted by our faith – pray and ask that God would give you opportunities to put your faith into action and bless those around you.
So how can we put our faith into action?
Be sensitive to the needs of those around you – whether that be in work, church, university or school. Ask how you can best serve them – whether it be practically, financially or in prayer. There are countless people all around you who need help – but may be afraid to ask for it, out of fear of judgement or feeling like a burden – but I can almost guarantee that if support was offered, they would gladly accept it. Volunteer for a local charity in your community or a church ministry. Call a friend to encourage her to keep going. Cook a meal for a busy, stressed-out friend. Complete a random act of kindness for a stranger. Life is hard and everyone struggles. But you have the power to put your faith into action and ease the struggle a little. This often starts with simply showing up and being present, particularly in times of need and hardship.
“You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.” (v22)
By: Claire Acheson
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