I'm sure that all of us know someone who talks a good game but can't back it up. The guy at the gym who says he can bench 300 and struggles with a much lighter weight, the guy who says he can kill a softball then can barely get it to the grass, and the Christian who points out everyone else's sins and misconducts only to be involved in some secret sinful activity of their own. We even have the popular saying: "If you're going to talk to the talk, you've got to walk the walk." James takes is a step further in James 2:26 - "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
I am challenged every week in Sunday School to make sure that my life and actions back up the posts that I put on the internet. I feel that this is one way that I can put my faith into action. I am absolutely in no way perfect or anywhere near it. I sin every day, whether it's by being angry, speaking down to someone, or even just having thoughts that are not glorifying to God. I would say I am only perfect at being a failure but I'm not even 100% perfect at that because I get some things right.
I say all of that to be able to live my life openly and admit my failures and shortcomings. We were discussing the major reasons some people don't come to church and one of the top reasons was "because of the hypocrites". I love the quote that I read earlier this week which said "Not going to church because of the hypocrites is like not going to the gym because of the out of shape people." Everyone who sins is not a hypocrite, the only person to every live a perfect life here on earth is Jesus. The actions that we do will not save us, I will not get into heaven for a Facebook post, for volunteering with charitable organizations, or for helping a little old lady cross the street. I will make it to heaven by placing my faith in Jesus Christ and by his mercy and grace. My and your actions show the motives of our heart. Make sure that the good things we do today are because we are doing it to glorify God and not ourselves.
"Faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds." James 2:17-18
You can also read James 2:14-26.
Actions speak louder than words...walk the talk today!
I am challenged every week in Sunday School to make sure that my life and actions back up the posts that I put on the internet. I feel that this is one way that I can put my faith into action. I am absolutely in no way perfect or anywhere near it. I sin every day, whether it's by being angry, speaking down to someone, or even just having thoughts that are not glorifying to God. I would say I am only perfect at being a failure but I'm not even 100% perfect at that because I get some things right.
I say all of that to be able to live my life openly and admit my failures and shortcomings. We were discussing the major reasons some people don't come to church and one of the top reasons was "because of the hypocrites". I love the quote that I read earlier this week which said "Not going to church because of the hypocrites is like not going to the gym because of the out of shape people." Everyone who sins is not a hypocrite, the only person to every live a perfect life here on earth is Jesus. The actions that we do will not save us, I will not get into heaven for a Facebook post, for volunteering with charitable organizations, or for helping a little old lady cross the street. I will make it to heaven by placing my faith in Jesus Christ and by his mercy and grace. My and your actions show the motives of our heart. Make sure that the good things we do today are because we are doing it to glorify God and not ourselves.
"Faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds." James 2:17-18
You can also read James 2:14-26.
Actions speak louder than words...walk the talk today!
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