James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Martin Luther hated this verse, and indeed, the whole book of James, because he had rediscovered the principle of salvation by grace through faith, (Ephesians 2:8-9) which had effectively been forgotten by the Church, or at least overlooked, for a while at that point. However, that doesn’t change the validity of this principle. There is no way we can purchase our salvation, or even forgiveness for a single sin, but genuine faith is active. It is no theoretical, ivory tower exercise, but is applicable to every moment of our lives. That’s not at all to say we are to be anxiously trying to prove our faith, but rather that genuine faith will inform our every decision and guide our every step. A major part of spiritual growth is in realizing how that is to work out in practical terms. It can require real growth to take the stand that abortion is denying the sovereignty of God and the value of life, for example. It also requires genuine faith to forgive when you are slandered. To repeat a point, faith is not just theoretical! That is the major point of James, I think, and he gives many illustrations of his point. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see how we might be acting in violation of what we say we believe, and repent to the point of changing how we live.

Of course, this applies to me as much as to anyone. I have made a lot of choices that people have lauded as “showing great faith,” but at the same time I have also ignored the faith I claim, in countless ways. I am never to preach to others and fail to receive the Word myself! If I do that, I am no better than the Pharisees who clashed so strongly with Jesus. I am to lead the way in humility, believing that I can do nothing right on my own, but that God can do anything at all through me. Simply put, I’m to believe enough to act, however things might look on the surface.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s a very simple, almost simplistic, principle, but it’s vital. Help me indeed walk out my relationship with You, and with Christ Jesus my Lord, so that all of Your plans may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!