Common Sense Christian

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Daily Devotional – October 9

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

JAMES 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Many people who read this verse immediately think that in order to have salvation (eternal life) they also have to perform works.  This is because that they fail to understand that James is talking about the outward manifestation of our faith toward others, (the key being in James 2:18). 

Once someone can understand that James is not talking about salvation, but rather our testimony before others, an important lesson can be learned from this book: 

Our faith is not much good to others if it doesn’t show itself outwardly toward others in service. 

“Put your money where your mouth is”

“Practice what you preach”

“Walk your talk”

Today is a good time to start.

October 9, 2006 - Posted by | Daily Devotional

5 Comments »

  1. Testimony is to witness, and to witness is an act of relation requiring I, Thou and the Creator. Don’t the Amish provide a remarkable example? http://www.gnuzworks.com

    Comment by phrenseed | October 10, 2006 | Reply

  2. Hi Phrenseed! Thanks for stopping by the Berean. I lived in PA for about three years near the Amish, and many of them do exactly as they say. Would that the rest of we Christians would follow suit.

    God bless,

    -j

    Comment by bereans | October 10, 2006 | Reply

  3. I like this passage. I wrestled with it at first because it sounded somewhat angry and mean-spirited of Jesus, dare I say. It comes from Matthew 7:21-23:

    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

    I had a talk with another friend who I discuss the Bible with and he brought this up and I mentioned how glad I was he did because it was really on my mind. I realized, essentially, as my friend showed me, it asks the question “You may know Jesus, but does he know you?” In other words, through your actions, do you show that you truly live out his teachings? Of course it is so easy to say you do, but ultimately, are we practicing what we preach? As I had thought, it sounds harsh, but it essentially is a rebuke of hypocrisy if anything- that is what I have come to gather from it.

    Comment by chickenhawk | October 11, 2006 | Reply

  4. Hi CH!

    I think that there are people out there who are deeply religious but have not placed their faith and trust in Christ. God has only asked us to have faith in what he says, and yet man continually wants to break free and figure it out for himself. It was man’s stubborn nature that took him away from God (and keeps him away) and all God wants is for man to believe him. So these people, who are told that for their salvation they simply have to believe in the death of his son, when they refuse to believe God, they call him a liar, put his sacrifice to open shame by the refusal to believe, then determine that they are going do it themselves by their own might and power (self-righteouesness) then they never accept Christ by faith. This can extend to tele-evangelists, priests, pastors and anyone else who thinks that they are good enough that the sacrifice of Jesus was not needed.

    As a Christian grows in Christ (keep in mind that many don’t–but that doesn’t mean they aren’t saved, they just fail to mature) they begin exhibiting the fruit of the spirit:

    Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

    Of course we shouldn’t expect a new Christian to be doing the spiritual work of one who has matured–they are still a spiritual baby and still learning–they will stumble, fall and do things that they shouldn’t–but as one grows in Christ they will eventually begin to see the results of that spiritual growth–then they will practice what they preach!

    Sorry for the rambling, CH!

    -j

    Comment by bereans | October 11, 2006 | Reply

  5. Hey no apology needed! That was a great explanation and very helpful. I definitely have a better understanding of that passage now. Thanks.

    Comment by chickenhawk | October 11, 2006 | Reply


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