“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24)

The apostle James affirms that every act of a professing believer’s loving service is a result of genuine faith. He states that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Declaring we believe makes us children of God, but it’s when we serve Him by serving others that we act as believers who trust and follow Jesus. Faith and service are as closely interdependent as the body and spirit, a beautiful display of the power of Christ as He works in and through us.

After personally accepting that God’s sacrifice on the cross washes us in perfect love, we can respond in authentic faith that overflows into the ways we serve others.

Daily Questions

1. How has someone helped you be more open to knowing Jesus personally?
2. How can you demonstrate your faith in Christ through loving words and actions?

Daily Thoughts

Jesus, please flood our lives with Your perfect, cleansing love, so that we can pour it into the lives of others.

James 2: 14-26

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 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. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

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? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead

Bonus Information

The book of James has been compared to the book of Proverbs because both contain practical advice for living out a life of faith in God. James 2: 14-26 is foundational for understanding the relationship between our faith and works. James introduces this topic early in his letter and continues to tell his readers that true faith is demonstrated by actions.