It's here: Part 9 of the 9 part series - how to get prayers answered
The Acts of The Apostles - D28
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
8/29/20262 min read
Faith You Can See
“Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18, NKJV)
James had grown up in the same home as Jesus.
He knew His voice. Sat at the same table. Watched Him grow from boyhood into a man. Yet during Jesus’ earthly ministry, James did not believe that the brother he had known all his life was truly the Son of God.
Then came the cross.
Then the empty tomb.
And then the risen Jesus appeared personally to James.
Scripture does not tell us what was said in that encounter, but something changed. The brother who once struggled to believe became a devoted follower of Christ and eventually a leader in the Jerusalem church. James had come face-to-face with the risen Jesus, and he could no longer remain who he had been.
That makes his words about faith much more personal.
“I will show you my faith by my works.”
James knew that genuine faith does more than change our minds about Jesus. It changes us.
And perhaps that is where his words should make us uncomfortable.
We can believe the right doctrines, know Scripture, attend church, pray before meals, and call Jesus Lord. But if year after year we remain just as unforgiving, impatient, self-centered, bitter, or unwilling to surrender, we should be willing to ask a harder question: Has what I believe about Jesus reached the places in me that still resist becoming like Him?
James is not telling us to work harder so God will save us. Salvation is found in Christ alone. He is asking what happens after we have encountered that Savior. James encountered the risen Jesus and his life took a different direction. The same Christ stands before us.
Jesus does not simply want our agreement. He wants our hearts. He wants to enter the places where our words say faith but our choices still say self. He wants to turn forgiveness from something we believe in into something we extend. Compassion from something we admire into something we practice. Surrender from something we sing about into something we live.
Maybe the question today is not, “Can people see my faith?” Maybe it goes deeper: When Jesus looks at my life, can He see that knowing Him is changing me?
Because when we have truly been with Jesus, something in us should eventually begin to look like Him.
Sit with Jesus today and ask Him, “What part of me have I believed You can save, but resisted allowing You to change?” Whatever He reveals, surrender it to Him and let your next act of obedience become an expression of your faith.
Scripture Promise:
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)
Prayer:
Father, let me life be a reflection of my time with you. Thank you for giving us Jesus, the perfect example for us to follow. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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