Faith Without Works Is Dead!

Today, my chronological Bible reading plan switches to the Book of James, which reminds us that biblical Christianity is practical. What stood out is the application of our faith in many different situations. It is easy to talk big about one’s faith in Christ. But, as they say, “The proof is in the pudding.” — James says talk is cheap; live it out! You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? (James 2:19–20, NLT)

Now, James makes a clear distinction here. He says that good works do not produce faith, but faith saves and produces good works. What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. (James 2:14, 17, NLT)

As in James’ day, so too in our day, there will be many professors but fewer possessors and practitioners of the faith. Paul the Apostle, writing to Timothy, warns of such things in the last days. Paul describes incredibly wicked people in 2 Timothy 3:1-4 who…have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:5, ESV) In other words, many will say one thing, but they will live out another, for their heart is dead to God. James says…For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:26, ESV) Believers, let us rejoice that the power of God has transformed our lives, and we live out this joy through our good works!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from James 1-5.

Our Message Is Alive!

Boldness, preaching, believing, persecution, and encouragement. This is the pattern in Acts 13-14. The boldness mentioned in the reading this morning was a Holy Spirit-empowered boldness; for example, …as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? (Acts 13:9–10, NLT)

This boldness influenced the Apostle’s preaching. …Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power… (Acts 14:1, NLT), …preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord… (Acts 14:3, NLT) Bold preaching is not loud preaching; it is honest, direct, and unapologetic preaching. The Holy Spirit used such authoritative preaching to convict the hearts of many, and many believed. …Paul and Barnabas…preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. (Acts 14:1, NLT)

Persecution followed, for not all who heard the message believed. They became jealous, following Paul and Barnabas from town to town, inciting riots among the people, expelling them, stoning Paul, and trying to intimidate the believers. So what did the Apostles do? …they returned…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:21–22, ESV)

What stood out to me in the reading is that genuine New Testament Christianity is not neutral in this world. The message we believe and preach is alive, convicting, and powerful—the power of God to save. Let us be encouraged that our message is as alive as Jesus is and that we should continue in the faith as the early church did.

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 13-14.

The Escape of a Lifetime!

The devil, our adversary, is on the move. He hates the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants to stop it. He does not want his captives set free from the chains of darkness. Our reading today shows that James the Apostle has been killed with the sword. Herod has moved on to the Apostle Peter with the same intention—to please the Jews. Peter is imprisoned and awaiting trial. Several things stood out to me in the reading. 

First, the devil has outdone himself by imprisoning Peter, which exposes his weakness in the face of God’s power. Peter is in chains, guarded by four squads of soldiers, deep in the heart of the prison. Peter is a fisherman, not an escape artist! The devil has overplayed his hand, as he so often does in his rage and malice against God! Peter’s escape was effortless in the might of God’s power. He simply followed an angel out the door! 

Second, it had to vex the devil that deep in the heart of the prison, on the eve of Peter’s likely execution, he was so sound asleep that Peter thought his escape was a dream. This reminds me—Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7, NLT)

Third, praying is what the church is doing, and Peter finds himself walking down the street in the middle of the night, free! The church is shocked when Peter knocks on their door. Likely, you and I, as believers, can look back on our lives and thank God for “awe” type moments when God intervened. 

As believers, what a cause we have in Christ to rejoice! We are freed from the chains of darkness, we have a peace that passes all understanding, and our God is sovereign, faithful, good, and gracious—are not our lives a living and walking testimony of such, as much as Peter was, walking down the street freed from prison?

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 11-12.

A Glimpse Into the Realm of Prayer!

One of the most remarkable conversions in the Bible occurs in our reading today. In a dramatic event, Saul of Tarsus is converted on the road to Damascus, where a bright light knocks Saul to the ground. This light leaves Saul blind for three days. While the conversion of the early church’s greatest persecutor is dramatic and miraculous, what stands out to me is something mentioned in the aftermath. 

The Lord comes to Ananias in a vision and says to him, … “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” (Acts 9:11–12, NLT) In these two verses, we get a small peak into the realm of God’s prayer-related activities. While Saul is praying to God “right now,” the Lord is speaking to Ananias about Saul’s prayer. On one end of the prayer, Saul asks for this man in his vision to come and restore his sight. On the other end, Ananias’ life is being redirected in response to Saul’s prayer—and God is in the middle, orchestrating all of it according to His sovereign purpose and will. 

As believers, what a thought that prayer connects us, in ways we don’t fully see or understand, to God’s sovereign will and purpose—and to each other—with life-changing direction and results. Because of this prayer of Saul and the obedience of Ananias, what an impact the gospel has had on this world once Saul received his sight and was taken in by the early church! Believers, let us not forget to pray and to pray all the more!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 9-10.

Precious In His Sight!

Stephen is on trial and boldly preaching the Gospel to the Sanhedrin. His sermon begins in the book of Genesis. His survey of the Old Testament highlights the problem with his accusers’ hearts. Israel is known for its stubbornness and rebellion. It is also known for persecuting and killing the prophets God sent to it. 

As Stephen ends His sermon, he does something that gets him killed like the prophets before him. He makes a direct application to his hearers. With boldness, he says: “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. (Acts 7:51–52, NLT)

What stood out to me in the reading this morning was the posture of Jesus. As Stephen looked up, God allowed him to see through the veil into another dimension, and he saw Jesus standing. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56, ESV) This is interesting because Jesus is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament as being seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 8:1, Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 12:2). The death of Stephen was precious, and it was something that He stood for.

Wow! Imagine God standing to receive his saints into Glory. What a reception given since He doesn’t stand for anything else! What a thought to remember that though this world persecutes and rejects the Christian, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15, ESV)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Acts 7-8.