“Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works” (James 2:20, 26, NLT).
What does my life say? Is my life about me or about others? I don’t want to be a part of the “me” generation, but what do my attitudes and actions actually reveal? Does my faith in Christ make a difference in the way I treat others? Do I rejoice when others are blessed? Do I cry when others are wounded? How does my faith effect my relationships? Does kindness rule? Is patience prevalent? Does the mercy of His heart humble mine? If Jesus is my anchored purpose, my life is not meant to be about me. I need to examine my life–each moment, each thought, and each action to really see if Jesus is my reason for living.
If He my Savior and my anchor, He is the core of my very being. If He is my heartbeat, then His faith and His love within my heart have nowhere to go but outward. It cannot be inwardly directed or it will destroy me. If He has broken the selfishness of my heart so that I may be filled with His love, then how can I not want my heart to be broken for others? James was explicit when he penned that "faith without good deeds is useless". Likewise, he lets me know that deeds without faith has little meaning. If I love Jesus, then my life is not about me. It is about the needs of others. My life should reveal the Savior who redeemed me and filled me with His love and purpose. I should live His love in each moment, in each thought, and in each action. If He is my first love, then my life will be claimed by Him. I will live the change that His love has brought in my life.
This morning Jesus knows the state of my life. He knows if selfishness reigns or if His love has completely claimed my heart. Am I ready to be honest and truthful with Him? Am I ready to surrender my selfishness and pride out of love for Him? Am I ready to examine my motions and purpose? Am I ready to let go of my own desire and realize that I am called to regard others better than myself? I want to be used by Christ to make a difference. I long to speak peace in the midst of any turmoil. I yearn to be a catalyst of healing. I long to be the part of the body of Christ which brings healing unity to the whole. The only way I can become all that He wishes me to be is to give Him total control. Today I want to be real with Him so that I can be real with others. I pray to lay down each thing in my life born of selfishness and seek the love that gave all for me. I long to be nothing more than His hands and feet in a world that desperately needs to experience His love.
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