we are looking in the
the 2nd chapter of james about what real faith is. real faith is not just something you say. real faith is not just something you feel. it’s more than
emotions.
a lot of people confuse
emotions and sentiments with faith. you
can be emotionally moved and never act on it.
you can go to church and get a quiver in your liver, goose bumps but it
never makes any difference.
james gives here an
illustration. james 2.15& 16 (niv), suppose
a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. if one of you says to him, “go, i wish you
well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
there was this peanuts
cartoon. charlie brown and linus are
inside all bundled up and snoopy is out in the cold shivering in front of his
dog food bowl. and charlie and linus are
having a discussion on how sad it is that snoopy is hungry and cold. “he’s cold and hungry. we ought to do something about it.” so they walk outside and say to snoopy, “be
of good cheer, snoopy.”
do you know where
charles schultz got that idea? from this
verse. what good is it if you see
someone in need and you say, “i feel for you!”
he is saying it’s more than words.
it’s more than just feelings.
let’s say on sunday
after church, i walk outside and you’re getting in your car and you happen to
slam eight fingers in your car door and you’re standing there in agony with
blood on your fingers. if i walk up and
say, “i feel for you!” is that any help?
real faith is more
than just sympathy and feeling emotions.
you give assistance. you do something
about it. you act on it. real faith takes the initiative. a real believer has real faith and it’s
practical. it gets involved with
people.
now he’s talking about
CHRISTians here. (this is the only time in scripture that CHRISTian women are
called sisters.) when you become a part
of GOD’s family you have some family responsibilities. a real believer will care about other
believers.
just a thought from
the front porch…
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