FAITH AND WORKS – LIGHTNING AND THUNDER
Main Text: James 2:18
“you have faith, I have deeds/works. Show me your faith without deeds/works and I will show you my faith by what I do.
James 2:24 – Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only.
When we see lightning flash across the sky, we expect the roar of thunder to follow. If there were no lightning, there would be no thunder, because one causes the other. It’s like that with faith. Just as thunder follows lightning, good works/deeds always follow true faith.
The relationship between faith and works is explained in the New Testament writing of Apostle Paul to the Ephesians and in a brief letter from James. At first glance these authors seem to contradict each other. Paul insisted “by grace you have been saved through faith…….. not of works (Eph. 2:8-9).
In context though James was not denying that we are saved by faith. He referred to Abraham saying that he believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. What about you? Has the “lightning” of personal faith in Christ been followed by the thunder of good works?
OUR FAITH IS SEEN BY WORKS
Pray: Almighty Father, may you rebuild the sparks of faith in us and use it to and rekindle a blazing fire of commitment to you.
BY BISHOP NGOZI DURUEKE (HE REIGNS CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL) To send your testimony, write us: mylivingwaterdevotional@gmail.com.