Our actions shout out what we truly think and believe with our hearts. We know that. But it’s easier to talk the talk than walk the walk, isn’t it? What or Who would make that easier? Should we try harder…as the world would say. “You can do it, have it your way, go for the gusto, pull yourselves up by your own bootstraps!” 

Have you actually tried to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps? I have a pair of cowboy boots with bootstraps. The bootstraps are to help you put the shoe on, but they don’t pull you up. They merely put the boot on so you can walk…and yes, that is another song…”These boots were made for walking”…but we digress. You actually fall down if you only use the bootstrap. You’re welcome. I thought you would like to know I tried it. It didn’t work.

Pastor James is getting more and more passionate as he goes on his challenge to us to ACT on what we say we think and believe. As I read it, most preachers and speakers tell us about the doing part, but I am seeing the “being” part come first. Then just do it! We must BE with the Father, asking for his marching orders daily, so that His power in us is behind the doing. Be first, (faith)…Then just do it, (Action). Faith is our love and trust in God with Jesus as THE Lord of our very lives. Action is the obedient response to that enriching time with God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

“Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?” James 2, Msg

As I read on, I am reminded of what our pastor said last night at church while talking about needing more volunteers in our children’s ministry work. “Don’t volunteer with the wrong motive.” “Do not say, well, I guess if they need it, I have to do something about it, I don’t like kids, they annoy me, but they need it, so I will do it.” Yikes, I have seen many volunteers enter ministry with this attitude. As a leader, myself, at times, I regretted their decision. I would have rather had 10 “called by God” to the mission than 30 who were not and didn’t really want to be there. Guess what, God doesn’t either!

“I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, ‘Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” James 2, Msg

“NOT SO FAST. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and and faith, fit together hand in glove.” 
James 2, Msg

“Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?” James 2, Msg

And Pastor James brings it home…

“Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham ‘made right with God by works’ when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the words are ‘works of faith’? The full meaning of ‘believe’ in the Scripture sentence, ‘Abraham believed God and was set right with God,’ includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named ‘God’s friend.’ Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?” James 2, Msg

The final question posed by Pastor James is one to be thought and acted upon today. Faith and Works. Trust and Obey…”for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus…but to trust and obey.” 

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Words are bold enough to get our attention. By Your power and with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, help us to truly, enthusiastically, boldly trust and obey. We love you with all our heart, mind and soul. In Jesus Name, Amen