Abraham believed God; he trusted God – at least he said he did. Yet, did Abraham really believe God? Did Abraham genuinely trust God? He said that he had faith, but was it saving faith? We say that we believe God; that we trust God – at least we say we do. Yet, do we really believe God? Do we genuinely trust God? We say we have faith, but is it saving faith? Find out now.
James asked the question: What use is it . . . if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? He continued with a second question: Can that faith save him? Let’s make the sense of it a little more clear: Can “that kind of faith” save him? Allow me to offer an even more accurate translation: That kind of faith can’t save him, can it? Perhaps, it’s a good idea to determine the kind of faith we have.
Most of us have experienced at least one life-changing event, if not more, the kind of event that has hammered us for years and may still crush the spirit. If you are among those, there is hope in your hurt. Don’t miss this opportunity to find that hope. You may be moments away from cutting loose the past and enjoying the present.
Our treatment of others is to be based, not on external factors, but upon one factor and one factor only – a factor that James called the royal law. James presented this law as the ideal measure of Christian expression and action. Yet, is its practice to be considered as a realistic expectation? Let me think.
As long as Jacob had one more ace up his sleeve, one more rabbit to pull out of the hat, one more alternative to rely upon, he gritted his teeth and pulled up his boot straps. But at length he realized that the well had run dry. At last, Jacob, the trickster, ran out of tricks. When Jacob had nowhere to go but God then he finally started getting somewhere.
Two thousand years ago God added a new letter to our alphabet in the Virgin
Conception. God had to add a new letter because no existing letter could spell
Immanuel, which means God with us. Therefore, if you want to find Christmas you’ll
have to journey beyond zebra.