Faith vs. Works. In all honesty, I had every intention of adding my thoughts to the argument but I fear my words would only seem all together rehearsed and copied. Do I believe that one can be justified and live through works alone? No! Do I believe on can be justified by faith and have no works which are produced through the Holy Spirit? No! So where does this leave us? It's quite simple really….God softens the dead heart to believe the in Christ Jesus. Then through the POWER and working of the Holy Spirit the believer is free to live by faith and moved to be a "doer of the word" through works, which again is only truly accomplished by the POWER of the Spirit.
I admit I often throw myself into such theological discussions as this with all the vigor and energy my age represents. Tonight, however I find myself moved in a different direction. On a side note, it is a wonderful experience to read the Word of God and constantly be awakened to fresh new thoughts….it is truly remarkable.
Reading the book of James and Galatians I was struck by something that I have never truly recognized before. Consider these verses:
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27
"Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do" Galatians 2:10
"So then as we have opportunity let us do good to everyone" Galatians 6:10
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him, it is sin" James 4:17
It is not merely a suggestion, but rather a Biblical COMMAND that we as believers fight, give and serve the poor, the fatherless and the broken! It is interesting that so often as believers we say we are moved or not moved to do certain things. Yet, if I may be so bold I would argue that it is IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOOD TO MOVE A BELIEVER IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN OF A BIBLICAL COMMAND!!
In Galatians Paul speaks about being eager to remember the poor. This is not because Paul is an all around swell guy. He is not the popular kid at school who takes time to sit and the geek table while his high class socialite friends observe in curiosity. He is not trying to prove a point or somehow earn salvation, but instead he is motivated and eager because the Holy Spirit is alive and active inside his heart. The Spirit of the Living God enters the believer and directs them to live as Christ lived and love who Christ loved…..and Jesus loved the poor, the fatherless and the broken! If through the POWER and direction of the Holy Spirit, I know the right thing to do and I don't do it…then that is a sin.
The magnitude of the four verses hit me to the core of who am I….because who I am is a wicked, arrogant and prideful man. As I read those verses, I began to talk to God in my heart, asking Him to change me even more. I want to be eager to love God and in turn love people more…to extend mercy and grace. For too long I have aimed to live by only the Biblical commands that I found to be easily accessible, and it is becoming evident to me of my mistakes.
The Holy Spirit of God was so present in the life of Paul that it cause him to literally anguish over people. When was the last time I really anguished over someone? Maybe I can think of someone if I spent a few minutes completely downloading and doing a google search of my brain. But, when was the last time I ANGUISHED for the one who didn't deserve to be anguished over? When was the last time my heart was moved by the Holy Spirit to live out the Biblical commands, not because I wanted to earn my salvation, but because it was a natural reaction to the Spirit of Christ in me?
My prayer is simple….that you and I would be so filled with the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, that it would cause us to anguish over those who are lost. But let us not be quick to rationalize and be so eager to live in our already comfortable lives, but rather continue to pray that we would have a new found EAGERNESS TO CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE HELPLESS….let our prayer be to never stop doing good when we have the opportunity.
Thanks for your heart each day on the reading, i love to hear how the word hits you, and compare it to my own heart and mind during reading.
i was challenged with the "anguish" as well. the end of James it talks about someone who wanders from the truth and someone should bring him back... my heart was heavy for a few people and i pray the Holy Spirit would reveal more who need prayer and who i can anguish over... I dont want to live a "happy" life in a spiritual sense.... i want to always hurt from growing, or hurt from loving...
thanks for your honesty and transparency. God is doing GREAT things through you.
Posted by: Bre | 02/03/2010 at 08:46 AM