Thought fro Friday, January 27th

January 27, 2012

Get To Work

   What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also

James 2:14-26

Quote of the Day

“One thing you can learn by watching the clock is that is passes the time by keeping its hands busy.”

-          Anonymous

Today’s Thoughts and Insights

Fact:  We cannot earn our salvation by working for it.  Our works are not worthy of God’s gift and salvation is just that a gift from God, made possible by His son dying on the cross, shedding His blood and paying for our pardon.

Fact:  If we have enough faith to believe God sent His Son to die in our place; and by that faith we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior; then we have the faith it takes to get to work for Him.

Fact:  If we are saved, then we have no choice but to get to work for God, for if we do not then our faith isn’t worth anything.

Fact:  We do not work to get saved: we work because we are saved.

What then are the works that we should be doing?

Making disciples, ministering to those in need: the widows, the orphans, the sick, imprisoned the naked and the hungry.  We should also be encouraging our brothers and sisters in the faith, building each other up, sharing in and caring about each other’s lives.  We should be praying and studying God’s word.  And we should be ready and available to answer the call to serve whenever God calls for us to serve.

Are you ready to get to work?

Today’s Prayer

Father, I stand in awe of you; for you are holy and worthy of all praise, honor, thanksgiving and blessings: may I not only praise you with my mouth but may my hands and feet stay moving and busy serving you in deed as well.

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

-          Anonymous

“Let my Lifesong sing to You”

- from ‘Lifesong’ by Casting Crowns