Faith in Action

Jul3

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
James 2:15-16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.15-16.NASB1995

I just have to say, “I know and serve an amazing God.”

My husband and I went out to breakfast and as we were leaving we noticed an older woman of seventy sitting in the foyer. She was drinking a cup of water, graciously given by the management of the restaurant, after having walked in the heat. This woman was headed to an ATM.

Here’s where God steps in…

We were asked if we knew where an ATM was in the area. With this one question the door of opportunity to practice our faith opened the door to put our faith into action. We took this woman, in an air-conditioned vehicle, to an ATM and then delivered her safely home. We talked of Jesus and we will be praying for her. What a wonderful blessing it was to practice our faith with action; to be a part of God’s plan.

🌹Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.17.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

🙏 Thank you, Lord, for giving me a testimony to share with these verses. To You, God, be all the glory!!! Amen.

Faith Works

Jul2

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
James 2:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.14.NASB1995

Works is an outpouring of faith. The desire, the call to serve sincerely, comes from a heart to serve our Lord God. Do you know that you know that you know you are saved?

Salvation is a commitment to follow and serve God.

Are you content in your salvation?

(Recommended reading: Matthew 25:31-46)

🌹But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.25.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Showing Mercy

Jul1

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
James 2:8-11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8-11.NASB1995

No matter the sin, big or small, sin is a transgression of the Lord’s law.

If we do not love our neighbor – anyone who is not us – we sin.

If we show favoritism to some; looking down on others, we sin.

Abiding by all the laws yet neglecting one, we are transgressors, sinners, of the entire law.

for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.10.NASB1995

🌹So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:12-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.12-13.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

No Partiality

Jun30

But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
James 2:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.6.NASB1995

The righteous mighty One, shows no partiality to princes nor regards the rich above the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.
Job 34:17b,19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/job.34.19.NASB1995

Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
James 2:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.6-7.NASB1995

We, the called of God, the righteous mighty One, need to stand strong. Let us follow God by not showing partiality. We, God’s beloved, should walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Let us continue to build each other up into our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping each other in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Colossians 1:10/Jude 1:20-21 NASB1995

🌹so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Thessalonians 2:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1th.2.12.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Thank, Praise, Exalt

Jun27

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth (faithfulness) to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Psalms 57:9-11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.57.9-11.NASB1995

🌹My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
Psalms 57:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.57.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Rich in Joy

Jun26

Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
James 2:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.5.NASB1995

Do you ever notice you’re smiling without realizing it? You might be alone or in a crowd but there is this smile on your face for no apparent reason. This verse brought that to mind. I believe the joy of knowing the richness of faith in God and that I belong to His everlasting kingdom is the reason.

Do you find contentment and joy knowing that you are part of something bigger and better than the life you live now? Are you experiencing the joy of the Lord and His grace being poured out on you?

Is it time to put your trust in Him?

🌹The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.
Psalms 28:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.28.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

No Partiality

Jun25

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
James 2:1-4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.1-4.NASB1995

The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all.
There is no partiality with God and God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
We do not know the heart of a person by their attire or stature in society. We are not to judge for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him.
We shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, nor judge according to appearance, but we are to judge our neighbor fairly with righteous judgment.
Proverbs 22:2/Romans 2:11/1 Samuel 16:7b/Romans 10:12/Leviticus 19:15/John 7:24/Proverbs 2:2 NASB1995

🌹Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
Proverbs 2:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.2.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Personal Favoritism

Jun24

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
James 2:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.1.NASB1995

I’ll be honest. I struggled with the meaning of this verse. I was not satisfied with the commentaries I consulted and the different translations just confused me.

But God . . .

I understand that the interpretation of the Word of God should be viewed in the context, in this case, of the letter, but I kept coming back to a personal viewpoint. (Which I truly believe was guided by the Holy Spirit).

“Personal favoritism.” Was I looking at myself? Was I thinking I am something special because I belong to the Lord? I will confess that I am truly blessed and my Lord God is a very, very special part of my life but do I act as if I am above others because of all the blessings God has given me? Do I think and act as if I am one of His favorites? That would not be very humble of me. I needed to change my viewpoint, all of God’s children are His personal favorite.

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.
Deuteronomy 10:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.10.17.NASB1995

As God’s child we can feel pretty special but all are special in God’s sight. Jesus shed His blood for all people. He called me to walk with Him. I made a choice to follow. He does the rest. I’m still a flawed sinner saved by grace. There have been many, many people of faith who have done extraordinary service to and for the Lord but not without God enabling them.

🌹Look to Jesus . . .

. . . the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Living By Faith?

Jun23

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle (control) his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
James 1:26 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.26.NASB1995

Are the words that come from our mouth God honoring? Is it truth that springs from our lips, refreshing, soul lifting, even in the presence of non-believers?

I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.”
Psalms 39:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.39.1.NASB1995

I will delve further into the controlling of tongues more in chapter 3 of James.

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.27.NASB1995

What is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God?

First it is to be doers of the word and to live by faith, for the righteous shall live by faith. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we being justified and righteous by our Lord, are given the opportunity to join in our Lord’s work as He works through us. Serving our Lord by feeding the hungry; quenching the thirst of the thirsty; welcoming strangers into the church; clothing the naked; visiting the sick; and visiting those in prison.
So let us learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Let us, because Jesus purified us for Himself, be a people zealous for good works.
Romans 2:13a/Galatians 3:11b/Matthew 25:35-36/Isaiah 1:17/Titus 2:14 NASB1995

🌹For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.2.10.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

God is So Worthy!

Jun20

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalms 150:6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.150.6.NASB1995

Take a moment today to thank God and praise Him, for He is worthy. 🙏🙌

🌹And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Revelation 5:13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rev.5.13.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org