My most recent personal Bible study was the book of James which was super practical and had some gems I’ve since applied to my life and kept in the back of my mind. One of the nuggets that really spoke to me was James 2:14-26, the lesson here is “Faith without works is dead.” Which I’m sure we’ve all heard before but Holy Spirit illuminated a different aspect of it to me and I wanted to share the fresh revelation with y’all.

This lesson is deep on sooo many different levels, morally, physically and spiritually. Let’s unpack it one by one, James starts by posing the question to us, I believe for reflective purposes in verse 14. He says “ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”

Think about it for a second and we’ll come back to it.

Then he challenges us morally! As Christians we all want to make a change in the world for the better and exemplify Christ by keeping the commandment He left for us in John 13:34-35 – which is to love each other.

In Chapter 2 verses 15-17 James says if you see someone who is cold and hungry and you say to them go and be warm and find something to eat, yet you do nothing to help them your “well wishes” were in vain. That’s like when someone asks you to pray for them and you say “I am praying for you…” yet you haven’t, your response was pointless and of no gain to either yourself or the person you said it to.

– I once was guilty! But can we just bless God for growth! Gloraaay! –

Here James charges us to be the change we want to see. So the correct response in that situation would be if you’re able, to offer your coat or sweater to them and put something warm in their stomachs.

In verses 18 & 20 James calls the person who has the faith for something without the works behind it foolish.

Lemme tell y’all a quick little story LOL
Okay so for the longest time ever I’ve wanted to pursue a few different things, one of which was to be a pianist and I currently want abs. I took lessons for over a year however DID NOT practice! Ask me if I can play anything on the piano right now!? Definitely not!  Here we are in the middle of quarantine I’ve downloaded 3 different workout apps, solidified a workout partner yet still I’ve gained 11 pounds and haven’t worked out in over a week smh. Wanting to work out and actually working out are 2 different things. I can want a 6 pack from now until eternity but if I don’t begin physical exercise and a healthy diet I’ll be sitting here waiting for abs to miraculously appear under this layer of fat LOL.

You see having the desire ALONE won’t do it for you, you need physical works behind that desire to manifest that thing which you desire.

We also see in verses 21-24 it makes reference to the story about Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22:1-12. Abraham believed that God would provide Himself a sacrifice, he exercised complete obedience and trust in God and his faith was perfected in that test.

What I’m saying here is yes have faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him. Also put some works behind your faith as verse 26 says “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”