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What Does It Profit?

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The Compassionate Life - Day 256 - James 2:14-17 - What Does It Profit? - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate Life – Day 256 – James 2:14-17 – What Does It Profit? – Growing As Disciples

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17 (NKJV)

Take Action

My faith in you requires that without a doubt. Your faith in me requires what, without a doubt? My faith in you requires me to take action. What kind of action does your faith in me require of you? I’m not sure where to begin and where to end in answering that question. Actually, there is no end to answering that question. My faith in you requires something every day. That something is new and different and unfolding every day as I love and follow and serve you. To begin my journey of faith with you, I turned away from my old life of sin. I stopped living according to the principles, patterns, and values of this world. I traded in an earthly perspective for a heavenly perspective. I stopped trying to store up treasure on earth. I stopped living for the applause of the world. My focus was taken off myself and the things of this life. My heart and mind and life are now focused on you. I am following you to where you lead me. I am doing what you ask of me. You have been molding and shaping my life as I have lived with and for you. You have given me new thoughts to think, words to speak, and actions to take. You have placed new desires in me. What new desires have I placed in you? You have given me the desire to serve you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am now at your service. My faith in you is living and active. I want to be able to know and do your will. What is my will for you? You want me to become like you. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to give like you gave. You want me to serve like you served. Yes, this is my will for you.

So now, my faith in you is taking action. I will no longer ignore those who are in need. I will no longer walk right on by those who are suffering. I will allow you to use me to love and serve others. As I take action, I know that I will be bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name. As I take action, I know that I will be a bright and bold witness for you in the world. As I take action, I know that I will be storing up treasure in heaven with you. This is the desire you have placed in my heart and mind and life. This is the life you have called me to live. This is what faith looks like. It requires me to take action. Yes, it does. This is what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, my faith is not theoretical. My faith is not simply accepting theological doctrines. My faith has turned my life around and changed my perspective. My faith in you has transformed my thoughts, words, and actions. Now it is my desire to help others in need. Amen

Key Question…  When has your faith caused you to take dramatic action to help someone in need?

Living It Out…  Make sure that your faith is alive and proved genuine by helping others who are in need.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your faith will lead you to want to help others who are in need.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your faith has led you to go out of your way to help others in need.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your faith be alive and cause you to do good works.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Compassionate Life – Day 256 – James 2-14-17 – What Does It Profit? – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Faith – Works

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - James 2:14-17 - Faith - Works - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – James 2:14-17 – Faith – Works – Growing As Disciples

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17 (ESV)

Into Action 

I have blessed your life. I have given you many good things. You have not wanted. You have not lacked. You have had all that you need. Why do you think I have so richly blessed your life? What do you think I want to do with what I have given to you? I’m pretty sure that not all  you have given to me is meant for me. That’s a good thought. That’s a start. Tell me more of what is on your mind. I think you have blessed me so that I can be a blessing. You want me to freely give to others just as you have freely given to me. You want me to be generous with others just as you have been generous with me. You are a giver. You want me to become like you. You want me to become a giver. That’s right. You got it.

What will happen to you as you give like I gave? You will use me when I give like you gave. I will bear fruit for your kingdom. I will bring glory to your name. I will shine brightly for you in this world. My faith will be on display. All my thoughts and words of faith will be tested and found to be true as I put them into action by giving like you gave. As I share with others from what you have given to me my faith will grow vibrant and strong because I will know that you are using me. You are working in and through me when I help others in need. Yes, I am.

How will you know when I want to use you? How will you know when and where and how to give? I will keep my eyes and ears open. I will watch and listen for opportunities to serve you by serving others. No longer will I walk right on by those who are in need. I will be your hands. I will be your feet. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. I will let you make my faith real as you put me into action in your service. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for my faith in you. You are my Savior and Lord. It is my joy to serve you. My eyes and ears are looking and listening for opportunities to serve you. Help me to do good works that will bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Rhythms – James 2-14-17 – Faith – Works – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com