Faith That Worksಮಾದರಿ

Faith is Obedience

Yesterday, we talked about how the testing of our faith leads to perseverance and forms us into the people God created us to be. Real faith is trust based on evidence that leads to obedience. And so, today, we’re going to look at what it means to live in obedience to God.

The best way to know whether or not you’re aligned with the will of God is to filter your thoughts and actions through the two greatest commandments Jesus ever gave us.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV

As we dive into chapter two of James, we find James calling out the church for missing the mark on both of these commandments. And if we’re really honest, we often make these very same mistakes in our own lives by not trusting God and not loving others.

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. … If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:1,8-10 NIV

The people James wrote to were in the habit of judging others based on their bank account. They would treat the rich really well because they knew that they had money to spare and could pay the church’s bills. Meanwhile, they would discriminate against the poor, seating them on the floor or in the back because they knew they had nothing to give. This was the church leaders’ janky way of trying to ensure their needs were met. In doing so, they stopped placing their trust in God, and were simultaneously unloving to the members of their church.

This way of living is not consistent with Jesus’ upside-down kingdom. You may not care about how much money your friends make, but we still put others down to give ourselves an advantage. We emphasize the flaws in others to make us feel better. We hate people because of who they know and what they have. None of us escapes the need for mercy. But Jesus shows us a better way:

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13 NIV

Not only are we not supposed to put others down to elevate ourselves, we’re actually called to show others mercy. Mercy means not giving others the consequences or bad things they deserve. God extended mercy to us by freeing us from the consequences of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. And now we get to show this same mercy to others. Jesus Himself said it best:

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

Mercy triumphs over judgment and blesses those who receive it. So what does it look like for you to be someone whose first instinct is to offer mercy? What does it look like to reject the selfish desire to judge and condemn, and to instead obey Jesus by forgiving those who hurt you? Would you gossip less? Would you hold less bitterness in your heart? Would your friendships be stronger and your community healthier?

Even if your choice to offer mercy doesn’t change them, it will change you. When we obey Jesus, we are set free from bitterness. We are released from the petty thoughts that lead to dysfunctional responses. We are healed from the inside out. When we choose to obey Jesus, we reap the benefit of a life devoted to Him, and that benefit is freedom.

Salvation is freely given, but freedom comes from obedience. As you’ll see, the more we devote our lives to becoming like Jesus, the less we are weighed down by sin and shame because our hearts are transformed through the daily decision to live righteously.

And living righteously is more than just believing in God. It requires action:

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:17-19 NIV

To follow Jesus, you actually have to follow Jesus. That means going where He goes, doing what He does, trusting what He says, and loving how He loves. Simply believing Jesus is real or calling yourself a Christian will not transform your life, and you definitely won’t lead others to Christ if your actions contradict your claims.

Fortunately for us, Jesus loved us enough to meet us where we were and bring us into salvation without us having to do anything to tidy up our lives. Not only that, Jesus doesn’t leave us where we are—He calls us to action. We must turn away from the old and run toward the new life we have found in Jesus.

How do we do this? We allow our faith and actions to work together. We can start this process by forgiving those who have hurt us and committing to obey Jesus.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 NIV

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NIV

These are big commands, but obedience to them plays out in our small, everyday decisions. Some of our most important decisions involve how we choose to speak to others, and that’s what we’ll dive into tomorrow.

Challenge: Today, commit to running your choices, even the little ones, through this filter:

1. Does this honor God?
2. Is it loving to others?

If the answer to either question is no, course-correct. If the answer is yes, then continue on the path and watch as your faith increases. Stay the course, obey the Word, and see how God’s love working through you transforms your mind and heart as you love like Jesus.