Christmas At The Movies: Week 3 - Day 3
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear father, we thank you for this great series that we get to cover this season. Please give us the courage to act on our faith in you and to share the truth with the world. The truth that you are the one and true living God. And it is in your son, Jesus Christ, that I pray, Amen.
14 What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15. Suppose that a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18. But someone will say,” You have faith, I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. 20. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21. Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22. You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
REFLECT:
As you undertake this journey as a Christ-follower, you will find that Faith in God requires action on his behalf. With him belief is about action. If you believe in the cross of Christ, then you will need to ask yourself, “What are you going to do about it?” To believe in Jesus Christ requires commitment. We follow God not only through our words but through our actions. God can call upon you as you can call upon him. He tasks all of us to have a relationship with him and a relationship with each other. No one will know the truth of God’s love if we don’t put our faith into action.
APPLY:
If you see a way to put your faith into action, ask God to give you the courage to go through with it. Trust in him to remain by your side the whole time and then make it happen.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for today’s devotional. Please take our hands and guide us as we praise you in this world. Give us the courage to show your love from within our hearts through our actions. In your son’s name I pray. Amen.