“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.” (James 2:18)
We are placed in situations that to the unrepentant world do not reflect the love of our Father in heaven toward us, even the most inconvenient circumstance can be viewed as not the proof of His love for us, but the opposite of it.
Serving the Almighty requires action, love cannot be expressed without some form of external action by us, and in my mind at this moment the simplest form of action in the Scriptures is when Mary simply sat at the feet of the Lord, doing nothing more, as far as we are told, than listening. But there is an action by us unseen by the world, that requires no external form, that cannot be viewed by anyone but the Most High.
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)
When the Almighty looks upon the heart that professes this action, your life will be altered for all eternity, you will never be the same person that you were before. And then the external actions will begin.
Prayer is an action of the heart, contemplation of the will and way of God within our minds is an internal action, to seek His face for His glory requires no external exercise, save for this.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2nd Tim. 2:15)
The very first step of the faith of works in an external form, and the one that should be continued in on a daily basis every day of our lives is to open the Word of God and study it, seeking His will in His words. That one simplest work, if done in the public view, away from the church setting, and solely for the purpose of seeking His guidance in your life, in how to continue in and expand upon works of faith for His glory, will set you apart from this world and nearly everyone in it. The next external work of faith is speaking of Him to others.
Be aware that these two actions can be, and many times are, reversed in their order, but they are in the greater sense, the foundation of revealing your faith to others by your works.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
What could be simpler than openly speaking to others about whom you profess to serve in love? Yet for many who make that profession it seems to be the most difficult thing to do. They would rather just sit at His feet and listen.
I will ask this question of you then, if that is all you ever plan to do, just sit and listen, are you profitable? I fear I may have just touched a nerve with some of you.
Does it do any good to give someone a drink of water if it is not in His name? To hand out blankets to the destitute, to feed the poor, to place money in the plate as it passes you by in the pew, if it is never done while speaking to the one you are performing these works for of the One you profess to serve?
“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1st Peter 2:12)
Not if you never open your mouth and speak of Him they won’t.
The expression of our faith is done by external actions performed by us, and always exclaiming to those we meet the reason why. How simple it is for most to speak, and how few who claim to know Him speak of Him.
The proof of salvation to the world is actions performed solely for the glory of the Living God. Circumstances do not alter this truth, in fact, they offer a greater advantage to do so, for in those valleys is where they need to see our works of faith the most.
