Scripture: James 2:15-18
Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity. Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful action.
Thought for the Day: I believe the Spirit of God is constantly drawing need to gifts, suffering to healers, the weak to the strong, fear to peace. God is a good matchmaker, yet too often the response is what James suggests, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!” Those who have resources too often turn away those who would be blessed by those resources. It might appear that those without resources are the ones who are impacted most negatively, but joy and true spiritual contentment come when we recognize God’s matchmaking and allow God to fully guide the match. By ignoring those in need, we might walk away with more in our pocket, but what we will discover in the end, is an emptiness of soul.
Prayer: Whatever my gifts might be, O Spirit of Grace, allow them to be guided to the place where they can have the most significant impact. Amen.
