James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Last night at our first night of Mission ConneXion we were blessed by the message shared by Rev Leroy Barber, Founder of  The Voices Project. In his message he shared that we are called not only to faith in Christ, but to good works as well. We are His workmanship and God didn’t just create us to be content in our comfortable Christian lives, rather, to step out and go outside of our comfort zone and follow His voice as he leads us to serve others.

He pointed out that as comfortable Christians, rather than following in the steps of Christ and living in and among the broken and suffering, we have become a culture of gratitude and thankfulness… but not in a good way. Instead of praying for a home to live in we are thankful we aren’t like the homeless guy we see along the street-side. Rather than helping the couple that is struggling financially, we are thankful we aren’t in financial turmoil like that couple is. Yes, being thankful is often good and appropriate, but he likened it to the two men who prayed. One cried out to God that he was broken over his sin, and the other one thanked God he wasn’t as bad off as the sinner, and one of the men was rebuked.

Verse 17 in the second chapter of James says that faith without works is dead. Now, if you understand grace and have served the Lord in a Bible teaching church you understand that does not mean we have to earn our way to God’s favor… Jesus paid for our sin on the cross and we can not do any works to receive it. What James is saying here is that if we are men and women of faith in Christ then that should motivate us to good works. Without works, the evidence of our faith is we have no faith at all. What good is it to show sympathy for a brother in need and not meet the need.

It was a great evening last night of fellowship, worship, and teaching and we look forward to what God has for us today.

Have a blessed Saturday seeking after the Lord today in all you do.

Blessings,
Keith