a pointed question...

1 john 3.17 (niv), if anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of GOD be in that person?

real faith is generous.  it wants to give.  who can count on you in a crisis?  how many CHRISTians have the freedom to call you up in the middle of the night if they are in an emergency?  not just talking the talk.  not just feeling for people. 

1 john 3.14 says that one of the proofs of salvation is that we love other CHRISTians.  do you have fellowship with believers?  real faith wants to be around other believers.  you love them.  we are known that we are CHRISTians by our love.

james 2.17 (niv), in the same way, faith by itself if it’s not accompanied by actions is dead.

we are better at verbalizing our faith than practicing it.  i can’t meet everybody’s needs but i can meet somebody’s.  even JESUS couldn’t meet everybody’s needs.  james is saying that if my faith doesn’t lead me to share with others it’s wrong.

if i don’t feel like helping other CHRISTians i don’t have a sick faith, i have a dead faith.  james is laying it on the line.  he says, do you want real faith?  it’s more than just something you say and it’s more than just something you feel.

just a thought from the front porch…