ICS Daily Devotions
Perfected by God’s Love
John 13:35 (NKJV) By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
How is our faith perfected? It is perfected when we marry our good works with our faith in God. Faith is made perfect when we act on love. A love for God and the people whom He loves. We walk in faith to help those whom God has placed in our path to love and help. Remember, we are the eyes, the hands and the legs for Jesus including holding the purse for Him. We need to be found faithful and true whenever He moves our heart to give, help, and minister. We are to act when we feel and sense His love and compassion for the people.
Be the good Samaritan by going the extra mile for someone who is helpless. Sometimes, the greatest challenge in the church is the inability to mix with the different classes that exist in the church. But there is no division of wealth and class when one is genuine in his or her faith.
We are not saved by good works or any effort because salvation is purely by grace through faith in the work of Jesus’ redemption of mankind. However, there must be a change of lifestyle after we are saved. While we are not saved by works, we are definitely saved to do good work. Our genuine salvation must not be merely a profession of faith without corresponding action to live out what we believed. It would be a dead faith. We must walk the talk, not just in hospitality but in every aspect of our lives. It is a transformed life.
What if we know that our spouse is suffering because of our behavior and God is nudging us for restoration? It could be a financial and emotional need. How about working out a strain marriage relationship when we are saved? We take the initiative to restore the relationship when we witness that our spouse is suffering because of our behavior or action. We take the proactive step to ask for forgiveness, to love and forgive! It is a genuine faith and works in action!
How about working out or restoring the strained relationship with our children? We might have been a harsh, uncaring and not be known as a thoughtful parent. We might have provoked our children to anger. Genuine faith is walking in love and reaching out in humility to restore what has been broken. It is a true faith in action. Good works prove that our faith is genuine. Walk the talk! We wouldn’t accept the status quo in situations like these.
James 1:27 (NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
We will not turn a blind eye to those who are suffering, especially the needs of the orphans and widows. Sometimes, the people might have more love and compassion for dogs and cats than people because they find it too complicated to relate and help people.
We are not saved by works but we are definitely saved to do good works, especially for those around us. This is the emphasis of the apostle James concerning a saving faith that corresponds with works. We are created by God to express His love, compassion and everything that He has gifted us with in order for us to be a blessing. Let us show the fruits of righteousness in our lives so that when men see us then they will know that we are disciples of Christ!
Sermon Series: An Active Faith
