Is faith alive in the decisions we make, in every encounter we have, in everything we say... because we have choices.
Are we opening doors or closing them? Are we listening to the heart of God, being spoken to us through a minister or perhaps a loved one? If someone we love comes to us with a rebuke or corrective observation, what do we do with it? Will we do something to bring reconciliation and healing? Can we apologize and ask for forgivness? And can we in turn forgive others?
It's so tempting to shut people down, to limit the upside, to isolate, select and cut people off from having input to our lives. It seems to makes things a lot simpler. Not seeing means we don't have to take action; not taking responsibility for our mess means we don’t have to clean it up; not opening means it's easier to announce that we’re done. And not raising the bar means we're less likely to fail. Is there faith in any of that?
James 2:20-22
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
James 2:25-26
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
The book of James in the New Testament has a lot on faith. For sure faith without actions or doing something is worthless, dead, incomplete. As we look at Abraham’s life James says,..
James 2:22-24
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. Abraham’s believing alone is only half of faith, still unfinished. But put together with his actions made his faith full, whole and complete.
James 1:26
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Have you ever offended someone by what you said? Our words create mental pictures that are seen in the minds eye. Read below (imagine I’m saying it to you)“I was out in the bay yesterday sailing and the wind was fantastic!”
James 3:1-2, 5-6
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Our words are under our own control for the Bible tells us that “by our words we will be judged and by our words we will be condemned.” Very serious are the words we speak, for both the speaker and the listener.
Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but and enemy multiplies kisses.
Correction and discipline are for the brave. My prayer is for Wisdom from God that I might not shrink back from engaging in corrective words when needed. Also Wisdom from God that, with my speech, I might not cast pearls before swine.May God bless us all!
Well said. But don;t shrink back from encouraging and affirming and loving words when needed too. Love you Bro!!
ReplyDeleteHi Mark,
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot to be said there; similar to what Meredith said, with out intention what we say is sometimes not enough. When we use positive words, we tend to say them as if they flow peacefully out of mouths, but when we use negative words out loud, they have a definate coarseness and constriction about them. This is why we feel good when positive words are said, and with real meaning behind them, whether through action or intention, they work.
I like to listen to Reverend Dr. Della Reese (the singer, now minister), she says, "Express your intention and let it saturate your consciousness so thouroughly that all your subconscious thoughts support it. The gap between declared intention and the subconscious is where doubt lives" (from Up Church, Monday, Dec. 27, 2010). --- Bonnie (had to post as Bridget)
Surely we must talk the talk AND walk the walk!
ReplyDeleteFor sure it is always beneficial to think about what you're saying (or feeling like saying)... that's always a good thing. But when bad, hurtful, inconsiderate words are said to us it helps to step back for a minute and consider the speaker of the words... do they really mean to hurt you or are they dealing with their own junk, and therefore not able to see that what they're saying is hurtful?
ReplyDelete