January 1 - Daily Devotion | Refuse to Live Like the World
"This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the 'twelve tribes' - Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." James 1:1-2 NLT
In the book of James, James, the half-brother of Jesus, is writing to the Jews who were scattered due to persecution. They were persecuted for their faith, so, he is reaching out to the hurting, calling them to heroic endurance by way of refusing to cave to temptation. It’s a book filled with straight truth, as James says, “So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone”— James 2:24 NLT.
Faith without works is dead and useless—James 2:17.
We are not saved by works, we are saved by grace when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior—Ephesians 2:8. Truly, “salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done so none of us can boast about it”—Ephesians 2:9 NLT. But our faith is useless, unless it is witnessed in our obedience to God who “created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”—Ephesians 2:10 NLT.
So you see, faith is clearly witnessed by a crowd with divided loyalties. When the crowd observes genuine Christians living radically by being doers of God’s word, not simply listening to it, they see how genuine believers are not swayed by the world’s ways. Genuine Christians prove their faith by living honorable lives, doing good works in all humility that stems from godly wisdom— James 3:13. Godly wisdom is pure, peace loving, always gentle, willing to yield to others, full of mercy and good deeds, it doesn’t show favoritism, and is always sincere— James 3:17. Thus, pure religion in God’s eyes is found in those who refuse to allow the world to corrupt them; and they live out their faith by caring for orphans and widows— James 1:27.
Their faith is active out of their love for God.
As we start a new year, will you purpose in your heart to live out your Christian faith - refusing to live like the world by being a doer of the word of God, not swayed by the world's ways and temptations? Will you say "yes" to Jesus and what He is calling you to?
Prayer: Abba, please fill me with your Holy Spirit, with God given conviction, to live out my faith this year, saying no to the world's ways. I say, "yes" to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Excerpt taken from Radical Living: the Book of James
