Faith and Works... A purpose and a plan

Faith and Works (James2:14-20)

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

This is exactly what my husband has been telling me but not in so many words. He says, "so, what? Now that we believe, we just wait and bide our time until we die?"

Everyone is searching for meaning in life and this is it... God has a purpose for each one of us. And, for each one, it's different. For you, it may be helping young couples plan weddings based on a relationship with Christ, or helping an unwed mother make the tough decision to go against social opinion even when it costs her a relationship with her parents. It may be caring for the elderly or spreading God's word abroad.

For us, our mission, our God breathed purpose, is showing His love to the lost and hurting... The homeless and working poor in our area. God continues to bless this ministry that He has given us and He has a plan for you, too.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "for I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord..."

What plan does He have for you? In Matthew 7:7, He says, "seek and you will find. Ask and it will be given... Knock and it (the door) will be opened." So, go to Him in prayer today. Ask Him to reveal His plan and purpose for your life and then step out in faith, believing that He will open the doors and will unfold that plan... His will... in and through you.

Corporate Worship through Music

Church services are otherwise labeled "Corporate Worship".  Therefore, when one goes to a church service, they are expecting certain things... mainly, the Praise and Worship of the Eternal King of kings.  So, what is Praise and Worship?  Praise is singing songs about God... His grace, wonderful works, mighty power... songs of thanksgiving for what He has done and/or promised to do.  Worship would also include songs of thanksgiving because true worship songs would be songs singing to God.  So, if praise songs sing about God and worship songs sing to God, how do secular songs fit in with praise and worship in a corporate worship setting?  Granted, there are some that may work but with so many true praise and worship songs, why would we need to delve into that gray territory?

Today's worshipper has so much rich music to choose from... there are classic praise and worship songs such as, "Great is Thy Faithfulness", "It is Well with My Soul", "Crown Him with Many Crowns", "Count Your Blessings", etc. and then, over the years, these songs have been added to with music from great songwriters like Andre Crouch ("Through it All"), Rich Mullins ("Awesome God"), and Bill Gaither ("Because He Lives").  And, as many of you will recognize, I've only used one song per person but they each have such a rich history of songs from which to select. 

To further add to our repertoire, we've now got songwriters such as Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and David Crowder... again, each with so many songs from which to select.

If you are a worship leader at a local assembly, please prayerfully consider... will the songs that I'm selecting for this week truly usher our congregation into the presence of God?  Will they be inviting God into our assembly?  Will they be preparing hearts, as soil, to accept the Word of God?  Or will they be a distraction from the purpose of our time together.  Are these songs laid on my heart by God for a particular purpose for this week's message?

Also, please prayerfully keep in mind 1 Thessalonians 2:4, "... we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.  We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts."

Tell the Nations

During a recent devotion, I was reminded... We have a beautiful story to tell but are we telling it?  Do we share our secret with those around us or pretend that it is such a precious commodity that it must be hoarded and kept to ourselves?

So this song came to mind and the words are so true... We've a story to tell that will turn the darkness to dawn.  Are you telling HIS story?

We've a Story to Tell to the Nations

H. Ernest Nichol, 1862-1928 (CWH attrib to Colin Sterne)

1. We've a story to tell to the nations,

that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light,
a story of peace and light.

Refrain:
For the darkness shall turn to the dawning,
and the dawning to noonday bright;
and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.

2. We've a song to be sung to the nations,
that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,
a song that shall conquer evil
and shatter the spear and sword,
and shatter the spear and sword.
(Refrain)

3. We've a message to give to the nations,
that the Lord who reigneth above
hath sent us his Son to save us,
and show us that God is love,
and show us that God is love.
(Refrain)

4. We've a Savior to show to the nations,
who the path of sorrow hath trod,
that all of the world's great peoples
might come to the truth of God,
might come to the truth of God.
(Refrain)

Sharing Love

The ending quote from this morning's devotion said, "Real love is helping others for Jesus’ sake even if they can never return the favor."  Hmmm.  I've thought of other things that way before... money, time, invitations to our home, etc. but never of love.  I guess it never occurred to me that there were some who are incapable of love.  

Now that I re-read those words, I see that the quote is talking about the same thing I've always heard but it did still put that thought in my mind about loving people even if they can't return the favor... I mean, sure, we help people and, by doing so, show them God's love, but we don't expect love in return...  

Honestly, at times, we get upset because the people we help just want more and are demanding like they think we have an endless supply and we should have thought of this need or that need and where is it?  Why isn't it being met?  Instead of thanking us for the things we do provide, they are looking for more... but is that really being loving on my part?  Perhaps they are uncapable of returning God's love.  After all, we aren't doing these things for earthly praise but because we are feeling called to do them for our Heavenly Father.

We need to remember... our response to God is praise and love for our neighbor.  We are only responsible for our response.  We shouldn't expect the same from those we help.

So, as we go through this journey, perhaps we should think of this quote this way... "Show God's love to others for Jesus' sake, even if they can never show it in return."  If you've got the love of Jesus down in your heart, don't leave it there... share it with those around you.

Let's shine for Jesus today.... "I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart..."  "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine!"

Know

This week, I've had two songs going through my head.  And these aren't the usual Christian Contemporary, Praise & Worship, or Hymns that normally reside there but, instead, secular jingles.  But, God has given me new perspective for each of them and I felt He would like me to share with you what I've learned.

So, here's the first one:

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name

And they're always glad you came

You wanna be where you can see our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name"

Making our way does take a lot out of us but we can take a break from our worries when we lay them at the foot of the cross.  "Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) and He knows our names.

Hopefully we have a small group that we meet with on a regular basis who share our burdens and know us more intimately than the general public but even without that, God knows our name... we are as numerous as the stars in the heavens... the multitude of humankind is more numerous than all the grains of sand but (and this is a huge BUT) God knows each one of us by name... He even knows the numbers of hairs on your head!  My mind can't even comprehend that truth!  So, when you're feeling dragged down by the world, what better place to hide than in the arms of Jesus.

The second song is this...

You've got to know when to hold 'em....

I don't think I need list those lyrics here in total but I will break down what the Spirit has been saying to me about this chorus:

Ecc. 3 tells us there is a time for every purpose under heaven.  We need to know when to hold our loved ones close and when to let them go.  We need to know when to hold our tongue and when to share the knowledge and truth that God has laid on our hearts.  And here are two other scriptures to go with that portion of the chorus...

You've got to know when to hold 'em:  Matt. 10:11 says, "whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city".

... know when to fold 'em:  Matt. 7:6 says, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

... Know when to walk away:  And Matt. 10:14 says, "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."

... know when to run: Genesis 39 tells the story of how Joseph fled from Potipher's wife.  He didn't just walk away or ignore her while staying in the same room, no, he fled... he ran away as quickly as his feet would carry him.  When we are faced with temptation, we need to run just as Joseph did.

... Never count your money when you're sittin' at the table:  In Luke 12, Jesus talks of a man who had great gains and so he tore down his old store houses and built bigger better ones and then, in verse 20 it says, "But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

... They'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done:  2 Cor. 5 and Rev. 22 are just a few scriptures that talk about the rewards that await us in heaven.  There is too much work for us to do here on earth... too many lost souls that need saving... hurting souls that need comfort that only we can give... we can't sit around and dwell on the good things we've done for Christ and His kingdom but we need to strive on toward the goal.  We will have all of eternity to look back on the blessings of this life.

So, there it is... two secular songs in a little more spiritual light.  I hope these thoughts bless you as they have me this week.

Enough!

I woke this morning with an old favorite from NewSong on my heart:

There is nothing good in me that did not come from him

nothing I could boast of that he did not give

from the moment I cried out to him to heal my troubled soul

he welcomed me with open arms, said all that's mine is yours.

Now I will never let myself forget all he has done

how he came and rescued me and where he brought me from.

chorus:

I am nothing without christ, he is everything to me!

He's the reason that I live, he is my only need.

I know I couldn't make it through

one day without jesus in my life.

I am nothing, nothing without christ.

So, then, I was reading my devotion this morning and it was all about how if we truly love God, love Christ, there is nothing that we wouldn't know about Him.  And another song started reverberating through my soul... this one from Hillsong:

Christ is my reward

And all of my devotion

Now there's nothing in this world

That could ever satisfy

PRE-CHORUS

Through every trial

My soul will sing

No turning back

I've been set free

CHORUS

Christ is enough for me

Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in You

Everything I need

I guess today's theme is that Christ is all I need... He is enough for me and I would not be complete without Him.  Can you say the same for your life today?

Our Awesome (Defender) God

While visiting family a few weeks ago, some of our grandchildren got me hooked on a new game. I'm not going to name it because that's not important.  But, in this game, you're defending the defensless against what seem, at times, to be unbeatable odds.  And it's caused me to think of a few things.  1) Of course, I shouldn't be playing so many games.  But 2) Although life is not a game, we do have a mighty defender who defends us against what seem, to us, to be unbeatable odds.

He is all powerful.  He is greater than anything that comes against us!  And isn't it awesome to know that He is protecting us 24/7?

"When He rolls up His sleeves

He ain't just putting on the ritz

(Our God is an awesome God)

There's thunder in His footsteps

And lightning in His fists

(Our God is an awesome God)

And the Lord wasn't joking when He kicked 'em out of Eden

It wasn't for no reason that He shed His blood

His return is very close and so you better be believing that

Our God is an Awesome God."