There are some topics in Scripture that are really deep. We can spend a lifetime learning about them and still never quite grasp them. We can read books, listen to sermons and podcasts, and pour over Scripture on a particular subject, but still have questions. It seems the more we read up on it, the more confusing it gets. One of those subjects is FAITH. In fact, I am no expert on this subject, and I do not claim to know much about it. But today I wanted to address it because I believe the Bible holds faith up to a high standard.
If you read through the gospels, you realize that Jesus commended and honored faith. He often said, “Your faith has made you well.” “Your faith has healed you.” And in Luke 7, Jesus says about the Roman officer who asked Him to heal his valued slave just by His Word, Jesus says, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel” (Luke 7:9)! Here’s the thing… I think that faith goes far beyond our belief that God can move mountains, part seas, and raise the dead. We should believe these things, but faith is so much more.
Faith in Jesus began the moment of our salvation. We put our faith into the One who could save us. We believed that He truly was the Son of God, the One who took our place on the cross. But according to Scripture, our faith makes headlines in the heavens and gains great respect from others when it’s put into action. James spends a great deal of time in his book talking about faith… he says that faith by itself isn’t enough. It must produce works. Paul says that we need to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). Paul also says that faith is expressing itself in love (Galatians 5:5). And according to our key verse today, James says that faith without works is dead and useless.
Let’s hone in on what Paul said… “Faith expresses itself in love.” That means that our faith should cause us to love… love God first of course but also love others. Jesus often spoke of this… Basically, when someone needs a coat, give them yours. When someone needs a hand, given them both your hands. And here’s what really makes Jesus smile… when we’re in need ourselves, but we think about others and we give to others what we are lacking ourselves. Let’s be faith expressers today… let’s not just sit on the sidelines, but let’s go out and express our faith in love.