DEVOTION – DAY 116

James 2:24 “Works Is Necessary”

 

James 2:24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

 

Is it possible to have placed our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and go on living a life of a non-believer? I know someone who seems to be doing so. I had the privilege of sharing the gospel with this person and she confessed of her sins and invited Jesus into her life as her Lord and Savior. Yet, she has continued to stay away from joining a church saying that her work required her to travel extensively making going to church difficult. But with the Covid-19 pandemic that makes business travel impossible, she has not accepted my invitation to church services. Thus, when I came across the above verse, I was reminded of this person.

The Bible confirms in Romans 3:28 that we are justified by faith. This means that we can only be saved by believing that Christ died on the cross for our sins and we do so by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But the Bible also tells us that our faith must not be in our heads only, but also in our hearts. There are people who mentally agree that Jesus died on the cross for their sins. Their belief is at the intellectual level. Their belief has not penetrated into their hearts and so they continue to want to live their lives as if nothing has changed in their lives. While salvation of a person is based on faith in Christ alone, once a person has been saved, there should be evidence of changes in that person. This is because that person has pledged to follow Jesus and following Jesus would lead to changes. That is why James in the above verse said when someone is covered in Jesus Christ’ righteousness, it is evident in the way they live their lives and by their actions.

I continue to pray for my friend that the Lord will work in her heart and to draw her to Himself. She had mentally put her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. I am praying that the Lord will help her to surrender her life over to Him and allow Him to lead her to make those changes in her life, to begin to go to church, to read the Bible, to want to know Jesus more and more. Faith in Christ alone is absolutely necessary for a person’s salvation but once a person is saved, that faith in Christ should manifest through service for the Lord, and a desire to know Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your gift of salvation given to us through grace. Help us all to show our eternal gratitude through our grateful service to you to give you the glory you deserve. In the name of the Lord Jesus we ask. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What changes do you see in yourself since you have put your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior? Share.
  2. Is it possible to live one’s life like an unbeliever after a person has said the sinner’s prayer? Discuss.
  3. Do you know someone who is a nominal Christian? How can you help this person be fully committed to Christ?
  4. How important is works in a Christian’s life? Discuss.