James 2:14-27 (NKJV)
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 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? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
What does it mean to be the Church? What actually is the Church anyway? How do you know which you are? Are you checking off a box of something you heard it is good to do? The Church is actually defined as the Body of Christ. In Jesus time, it was the people who professed their faith in Him and followed His teachings. They did not have a set meeting place or building. Some met in homes. They were a group of like minded individuals. Acts 2:42 says “They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” So, from the beginning, it was about relationships with God and each other. They shared what they had as anyone had need. This was not about spending precisely one hour on a Sunday morning on your way to somewhere else. This was not about being upset if the sermon ran twenty-one minutes. It was about loving God and loving each other.
Jesus said He came that we might have life abundantly. He asked us to love each other as He had loved us. He set the example. Are we doing that? The Good Samaritan did.
All through the New Testament, we are told that faith is the only way to God through Jesus. Now James tells us that faith alone is not enough or so it would appear. Is this a contradiction as many say are in the Bible? Not really! Works are evidence of true faith. If you truly believe in Christ, you will do what He asks. You will love one another as He loved you. You will not leave people destitute. You will take care of widows and orphans. You will do these things out of the overflow of blessings your faith has brought you. And what blessings will faith in Christ bring?
Acts 2:44-47 (NKJV) says “44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Sounds like a pretty good life to me! The rewards were gladness and simplicity of heart, and having favor with all the people. Faith brings you the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are quite some blessings and they are yours for the asking. Put your faith and trust in Jesus and He will give you these gifts.
So are you being the Church? Are you building relationships and loving one another as He loves us? Will you go out today to intentionally build a relationship or two? Look for someone you don’t know or get to know someone better. Ask about them and really listen. You will discover we have more similarities than differences. Go out and live as Jesus lived; love as Jesus loved and be the Church today! In Jesus name I pray for you!