In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17

Question: How Did Jesus Love Us?  Answer: He Physically Loved People

The Importance of Physical Love in Christianity.
Jesus didn’t just love people by sharing the word. He physically loved people by also sharing Himself. He healed people, He delivered people, He fed people, and He even resurrected people. We need to not only speak the truth in love but to walk in it as well. John explains this point in his second letter. 2 John 1:6 “And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” 

God wants us to share our faith with good works.

 James 2:17 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” 

1 Timothy 6:18 “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”

The poor have always been important to God.

 Proverbs 19:17 “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” 

Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well. The rich man who did not care for the beggar Lazarus was told in Luke 16:25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.”

When the goats are separated from the sheep, they will hear,

 “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

Don’t be a goat…

We Christians can pride ourselves in talking the talk, but are we walking the walk?

James 2:17 teaches that authentic faith always shows itself in obedient action. Belief that remains theoretical is lifeless; living faith inevitably acts—feeding the hungry, serving the body, pursuing holiness—demonstrating that the Savior who saves also empowers His people to walk in His ways. Bible Hub

• Do you just preach at people? Or do you physically share yourself with others in need?
• James challenges believers to examine their lives for evidence of their faith. Are we merely professing belief, or are we living it out through acts of kindness, mercy, and justice? Bible Hub
• Our faith should lead to personal and communal transformation. It should inspire us to address social injustices and meet the needs of those around us. Bible Hub

Prayer: Father, I’m ready. Strengthen my faith and guide my steps. I won’t let fear keep me from what You’ve prepared for me.