Your words and your actions reveal the genuineness of your faith. It can be easy to appear spiritual when times are good, but how do you respond in stressful situations? The efficacy of our faith is often tested during difficult times.

The Apostle James points out the necessity of living out what you believe by your words and your actions. James gives us guidelines on how we can demonstrate religion that is pure and undefiled. It starts with our character, we must receive God’s word in humility:

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

We must come to God with a pure heart. James instructs to get rid of the filth before we can receive that which is good. There must be an emptying before there is a filling.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)

We are to receive the word with humility. The word receive signifies to take with the hand and it is a deliberate and ready reception of what is offered. The derivation of the word save denotes that which is “safe” and it conveys the idea to save, heal, and to make whole. It is not enough to simply listen to God’s word, we must put it into practice:

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. (James 1:22)

Two frogs were sitting on a log and one decided to jump off into the water – how many frogs are left on the log? Your initial response may be one frog, but the answer is two. The frog only decided to jump, but it didn’t actually jump. We often know the right thing to do, but we don’t follow through. Later on in this epistle James warns us:

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

We must realize that the smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.  Henry Ford observed, “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how much you know, but by how much you obey. Do your words and your actions reveal the genuineness of your faith?

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:26-27)

Those who are deceived are those whose religion does not make any difference in their lives. Your words and our actions reveal the quality of your faith.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5