Put your money where your mouth is

You have probably heard the expression, "put your money where your mouth is" many times over. If you speak so well about a certain product, do you use it? Do you actually get the benefits that you say it provides? There are many celebrity endorsed products out there and I wonder if they really use the products they promote. Promoting your relationship with God is the same. This chapter in James says much about faith and works.

James 2:19-20
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

A great example of this is given with the life of Abraham, our patriarch of faith and father of nations. He was shown the promise of the stars and he believed and proceeded to act on it. He may not have figured how God was going to accomplish it through him, but he believed God could do it. He had faith even to the point of being prepared to sacrifice the only legitimate heir that he had.

James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Genesis 15:6
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

The truth is confirmed when you act on it and it yields the desired results. Our lives in Jesus Christ should evidence the greatness of the power of the Holy Spirit in giving us love, joy and peace of God. We may not have figured it all out but we believe God is working ahead of us making things happen. It is easy to give when you have plenty. When you have little, does faith kick in?

The early disciples had the same experience. They had no idea where Jesus' ministry was going to lead, but they were prepared to leave everything to follow him. They had a few bumps along the way when Jesus was crucified, when Jesus' body was missing from the tomb, when Jesus was taken to heaven, when Peter was asked to see Cornelius, and the list goes on. You can see that even the early disciples did not have it all figured out. Even Paul. They believed, and like Abraham, it was accounted to them for righteousness. I am putting my money where my mouth is.

Father, let my life reflect the great outcomes of your presence.

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