James 2:19, “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”
Are you a Christian? When you say you are a Christian, what are you saying? Maybe that you believe in Jesus. What does it mean to believe? Does being a Christian mean just believing? The Bible tells us that even the demons believe in Jesus.
My husband and his family are electricians. They have gone to many jobs fixing many mistakes that others have made and keeping electricity going in the buildings. On a particular job my brother-in-law had quite a mess to clean up. There was another electrical company that had come in and done the “job”, yet when my brother-in-law came in, he saw something quite different. There were wires sticking up through the floor, panels messed up, wires tangled and jumbled, things not marked. It truly was a mess to fix.
So, this other company called themselves electricians. They had all the right tools to do the job correctly. They probably even knew the codebook (a book all electricians should know). So, why was the job done wrong? It could be they were lazy. Or maybe they didn't really know how to use the tools effectively or follow the codebook by the letter. No matter the reason, it was not enough to say they were electricians, their work needed to match their words.
So, I ask you again. Does calling yourself a Christian simply mean you believe in Jesus? I hope we all can say no. Everyone who chooses to, has access to God's codebook. We even have been given the proper tools we need to be a Christian. And we have our own personal guide living inside us to help us. But if we simply say I'm a Christian because I believe, it will get us as far as the one electrical company, and we’ll end up making a mess.
I can say I'm an electrician. After all, I grew up with my dad and his family as electricians. Then I married into a family of electricians. I've heard them talking about all kinds of electrical stuff. I should be able to do their job, right? I can tell you right now, I'd probably go in and get electrocuted. Just because I've spent my life around electricians doesn't mean I know how to be one. My knowledge will not help me unless I put the work into it and have my actions and words match.
To believe is not simply saying Jesus exists. To be a Christian means you believe, and your actions match your heart. Praying to Jesus, studying the Bible, worship, telling others about Jesus. I am a Christian and I want the world to know that I follow an awesome God who not only created the universe, and who created us, but who loves us unconditionally and will lead us and protect us in all we do and what life throws at us.
James is trying to teach us this distinction, that simply believing in Jesus will not bring salvation. The demons (once heavenly angels who walked with God) believe. They know scripture better than any of us could. They know how the story will end. Yet, they tremble. Why? Because their belief is not accompanied by the will of God or surrender to God. Their actions do not support their belief. Their acknowledgement of God does not equal a saving faith.
“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” -James 2:18.
Any electrician worth their salt knows the code book. They've learned the way to correctly wire buildings, assemble panels, and so forth. They have learned to properly use their tools for the best results.
As a Christian we should have God's Word so hidden in our hearts that anyone who knows us knows God lives in us. The Bible will help us maneuver through all circumstances helping us get through life correctly. The Bible will also show us how to use our tools for God's will, one that will bring about the best results. To believe means your works also match your faith in Jesus- James 1:22.
You say you are a Christian because you believe in Jesus, you have faith. Faith that stands is faith put into practice and is lived out in a way that follows God's Word and results in loving God and loving one’s neighbor- James 2:8.
Don't just be hearers of the Word, go out and be doers of the Word. Know and live God's code book and allow God to equip you with all the right tools. Because God has promised once He calls you, He will equip you.
One of the deepest joys of the Christian life is beginning to understand how much we are loved by God and that He knows us intimately. He longs to reveal Himself to us as we get to know Him through His word, spend time with Him in prayer, learn to listen to His voice and enter into times of worship. However, there are times when it is just such a struggle to focus on God and spend quality time with Him. We all long to connect with God but taking the first steps can be hard with our busy day to day lives. Know that God longs to connect with you and give you the desires of your heart. It just takes the motivation and desire to find that amazing time with Him. God hears the cries of your heart and will give you the grace you need to grow deeper with Him. With that in mind, this is why I have taken time to put together Bible studies that are simple, short, yet take us through the Bible with God as we take a few extra minutes a day, putting away our TV, media, etc. time and dig deeper in the Bible.
We are starting a new lesson on Connecting with God and lesson 1 will focus on first seeking God. Click the link below for a very short study and a few questions to ask yourself and answer.
Study 1- Seek God- https://1drv.ms/w/s!As3FwvP417NegZECiA8ddHN9kSLWgA?e=1GDb47
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