Movement

READY

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself." —James 2:14-17

SET

For the first part of my childhood I grew up in a Christian home. I thought I had it all figured out until I read James 2:14-17. As a skateboarder, I didn’t want to be someone who wore the Vans shoes and Thrasher shirt, but didn’t actually ride a skateboard. These are called posers. They wear the attire, but don’t actually skate. I knew how important it was to not be a poser, so I tried new things and pushed myself to skate every day. I believed I could land the next trick and ollie more stairs and it caused me to move. That is what faith is.

“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” —Hebrews 11:1

Faith isn’t a belief that we just know in our heads; it moves us. It is confidence that causes us to act. We are so sure of the fact that Jesus died to save us and rose from the dead to give us new life that we have to act on it. I had gone to church, memorized the verses and knew the right answers in Sunday school, but had it moved me to act? Has it moved me to live differently? If I really believed that I could land a 360-degree flip or clear the 40-foot snowboard jump, I knew I had to drop in and try it. In the same way, my belief in Jesus should move me to action. My faith should create movement. The fact that Jesus died for me and rose to life so I can live forever should move me to act! It isn’t that I am saved by my actions; as Paul says, we are saved by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). However, faith without action is dead. It is worthless.

GO

• Have there been ways as a Christian competitor that you have been posing? How have you come to live out James 2:14-17?
• What are some examples in your sport and life that faith has moved you to take action?
• What can you do today to take action and demonstrate your faith in Jesus?

WORKOUT

Ephesians 2:8-10

OVERTIME

God, thank you for this day. Thank you that you have died for me. I am sorry that I haven’t always taken action in my faith. I ask that you would fill me with your Spirit and move me to take action in my faith. Help me to see opportunities and not just think about the right thing to do, but actually do it. Amen!

Jonny Nelson, Executive Director at JSAW, has been working in action sports ministry since 2004. Jonny loves to skateboard, snowboard, wakesurf, climb mountains and build stuff. He has a Bachelor’s in Youth Social Ministry and a Master in Organizational Leadership from Crown College. Jonny is all about Jesus, non-profit leadership and making disciples in the world of action sports. Jonny is married to his beautiful wife Brittany and they live in Minnetonka, Minnesota with their kids Oakley, Holden and Daisy.