Wednesday, November 6, 2024  

---

Today's Scripture
James 2:18–26

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe — and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. (NRSV)

---

Reflection

This verse begins with the challenge “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” Sounds to me like James is the OG of the popular saying “Actions speak louder than words.”

Words are so easily dispensed. The fancier and more eloquent the words or the verbosity and loquaciousness of the orator can often confuse and mislead the audience.

And, from the audience’s perspective, trying to parse intent of the statement and the sincerity of the person uttering the words can seem like a Herculean task. Some of us demonstrate our faithfulness by wearing a cross on our necklace. Some even have visible tattoos declaring our faith.

During my recent visit to Mexico City, I witnessed a seemingly repentant women climbing the steep, stone steps to the top of a cathedral on her knees as well as people prostrating on bare stone grounds at the entrance of the cathedral. Does God require such public display of faith?

Lucky for us God no longer directly requires us to make ardent sacrifices as requested with Abraham and his son. If such demonstration of our faithfulness were required of us today, what would you be willing to sacrifice? Where would you draw the line?

Call me naïve, but I believe the “deeds” demonstrating our faith is how we live our daily lives. How, to quote Pastor Are from his recent sermon, we accept and hold up our neighbors and strangers as bone of my bone. How we, as faithful Christians, treat our fellow brothers and sisters of humanity with dignity due to the flesh of my flesh.

Actions definitely speak louder than words.

---

Prayer
Gracious and loving God, help me to see my fellow humanity as bone of my bone. Teach us, daily, to demonstrate our faith by greeting each other with dignity and love that is due to the flesh of my flesh. May we demonstrate our faith by our daily actions and not just by occasional posturing. Amen.

---

Written by Toni Yang, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email