Faith in Action

Here are some valuable insights I gleaned from James on day 2. 

1. We shouldn't let public opinion influence how we live out our faith. Sounds so simple when in reality, half our battle as Christ followers is centered around trying to impress others rather than God.  In fact, one of the reasons I believe more of us don't spend more time with people who are far away from God is because we are afraid that our reputation might get tarnished. It is not public opinion that matters.  God is the one we are in the game to please.  We are playing to an audience of one.

2. God chose the world's down and outs as the kingdom's first citizens.  Wow!  What a statement James makes here.  And how many of us really understand it?  I mean let's just get real.  Our interpretation of a blessed Christ follower isn't one who lives below the poverty line and can barely spell his name.  But what James is saying very candidly here is that God operates a whole lot differently than we do.  And if and when we show favoritism to those whom on the outside seem like they have it all together, what we are really doing is sinning. Powerful stuff.

3. Merely talking about faith doesn't indicate that a person really has it. And what is faith?  Paul says that faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  In other words faith is believing that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do. To determine if people really have this kind of faith, look for it being demonstrated by their actions.  What James is really saying is that you can tell a person is really serious about God when they put their money where their mouth is.

4. If we refuse to act kindly, we can't expect to be treated kindly.  Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. Dallas Willard one of the greatest theologians of all time said this, "How many people are radically and permanently repelled from the way of Christ by Christians who are unfeeling, stiff, unapproachable, boring, lifeless, obsessive and dissatisfied? Yet, such Christians are everywhere and what they are missing is the wholesome liveliness spring up from a balanced vitality within God's loving rule."  Sheldon Vanauken wrote, "The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness."  And the he asks, "Anybody want to guess what is the best argument against Christianity?  It's Christians!  When they are somber, joyless, self-righteous, smug, narrow or repressive, Christianity dies a thousand deaths."  These two quotes sum it up.  Kind mercy, compassion, joy filled lives are what attract people to Christ. Kind mercy and compassion are also what initiate kindness in return.  James says we ought to act like a person expecting to be judged by God who says, "love others as you love yourself".