You can't have one without the other...

Greetings friends! 


As we anxiously await for Christmas day to arrive, we willfully reflect on this past year and hopefully on what Christmas truly means as a child of God.
We celebrate the birth of our Savior, God in the flesh and the grace that was and is bestowed upon those that truly follow the LORD and His will, amen.
There is much to ponder as the end of another year approaches and one of those thoughts may be; am I building my relationship with Christ by faith or works alone? 
This tends to be a hot topic among many Christians and despite what many a man will tell us, GOD tells us there is no fruitful faith without works and no fruitful works without faith. The scripture to follow ensures this. 




James 
2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


Well, there you have it folks. There it is for all to see, the very words of the Almighty. There should be no room for confusion or disillusion in whether we can be saved by grace (forgiveness/faith) alone. We are to consider our faith and works as ONE testimony to our Father.


Another important aspect of this scripture that should be noted, God does not appear to be overly impressed by self serving gestures of kindness towards others or serving Him in public to save face with man.


These kinds of “works" are not advocated in this scripture or anywhere for that matter, but it tends to be where most Christians stumble. (Earning works)


By the examples given in this scripture, one could gather “works" to mean having the faith to answer God's call, when and how HE is asking us to AND for our desire to be HIS desire NO MATTER WHAT HE ASKS!!


If we have faith, real, real faith, there is nothing we fear in trusting His will and if we act on that faith wholeheartedly without hesitation or doubt, we have shown Him our works! 
No matter what He asks, we have faith that His will is truth and we honor that in following (works). 


So as we spend time with loved ones, celebrating the birth of Christ on earth, take a moment to be with God and search your heart. Hopefully we are led to faithfully improve our work ethic with each and every moment He gives us! 


God bless and Merry Christmas!! Xo