“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17
NIV
“So also, faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by
itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).” James 2:17 AMPC.
“For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything,
but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.” Gal.5:6 AMP. The Bible
faith works through love. God is the source of both faith and love “looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Heb.12:3. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is
born of God and knows God.” 1John 4:7. He has generously given every born-again
Christian the same measure of faith and shed His love in our hearts. “For I say, through
the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every
man the measure of faith.” Rom.12:3. “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love
of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Rom.5:5. Bible faith is trust in God. If God is love, then Bible faith is trust in His love. The
more we know, meditate and trust in His unconditional love for us the more that
measure of faith we have received grows. Since faith and love are from the same
source, the more we allow that God’s love in us to express itself the more our faith in
God grows and expresses itself in our lives.
Perfect love casts out fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
1John 4:18. Fear is the opposite of faith. If perfect or matured love drives away fear we
can confidently infer that love nurtures faith to become fully grown. In other words, as
our love walk grows fear diminish and faith grows.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Boredom is the result of living a life without a focus/purpose greater than you.