Alright, we are back on the topic of works and works being the evidence of faith in our lives again today.  Now, based on who James is, based on the company he kept, and based on the whole of the New Testament teaching, we have to make assumptions about what James is really trying to say here in this text, because it really appears, on the surface, that he is saying something contradictory to what the Gospels and Paul teach about faith by belief vs. faith by works.  I am going to go ahead and read the text so we can all be on the same page with this, and then we’ll discuss it.  James 2:14-26.

James is using this idea to reinforce what he has taught us about not judging people by their appearance, and not favoring people based on the advantage they can provide to us.  Today he is stressing that we should not only withhold judgement, but that we should act on behalf of those who are most in need.  And we have to recognize the difference between salvation, which isn’t what he is talking about when he is saying Abraham and Rehab are saved by their faith, and redemption in this life.  Abraham and Rehab aren’t in Heaven with God for all eternity because of what they did.  We don’t receive salvation with God, eternity in Heaven, because of anything other than faith.  But, our lives are redeemed, meaning God works in us and through us and on us when we act in faith.  Faith in action is how we invite God into our lives.  Faith in action is how we get to experience God.   This is what I refer to as redemption; it is God coming into our lives on a personal level.  Essentially, I think James is telling us this, “You want to go to Heaven, then faith is your ticket.  But if you want to experience God in this life, taking action is the key.  We must DO in order to SEE - action is our invitation to God to show up in our lives.

So, for today, I am going to do as I did in the last reading - challenge myself to action. I didn’t get the “pay it forward” done, so that’s my challenge today - to pay it forward in some way.   And not only that, but that action will be my reminder to look for an even deeeper more meaningful opportunity to act out my faith; I will be on the lookout for what God brings my way today.