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James 1:22

Many years ago we bought a cardio-fit machine. It was a relatively simple device that looked something like a stationary bike. You were supposed to sit on the seat and pull the handles back while pushing forward on the foot rests. The actions helped to get your heart beating faster while it developed upper arm and leg strength.

The problem was that the device sat in a spare room and no one used it. It was a great exercise machine but it only worked if you actually used it.

Our faith is a valuable thing. The love of God is a tremendous gift to the world, but if it goes nowhere then we aren’t doing what we are supposed to. James has some simple instruction on living out faith. What should we NOT do? What should we do?

The development of our physical bodies, our health and fitness require that we invest the time and effort to accomplish anything. The same is true of our faith. If we will be children of God and people who believe in Jesus we must live out our faith. The result of belief is living out the belief.

It is so easy to be the type of Christian who likes to be fed by the goodness of God. We can find ourselves attending worship services for years and years. We can be the type of person who takes part in Bible studies and learns all the many lessons of our faith. We can enjoy the comforting and heart-warming knowledge of God’s love.

But we need to be more than that. We cannot simply sit and absorb the lessons Jesus presents and then do nothing. The result of faith must be the living out of faith. As James tells us, “Do what it says.”

The last words of Jesus recorded in Matthew are for believers to go into all the world and make disciples. We cannot simply nod our heads in agreement with this wonderful sentiment. We cannot see the validity and necessity of sharing the love of God and then sit and do nothing.

If we will be children of God and true followers of Jesus Christ we will live out what we have heard. We will live out the teachings of Jesus by actually going out and helping those in need, sharing the love of God with others, and being a force of compassion and comfort for those in need.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How will you do what the Word of God says today?