Posted by Jimmy Spencer
Often, I am guilty of waiting to hear from God. I could just imagine what He’d really say: “Really, buddy? Why don’t you pick up that book called The Bible that’s been sitting next to your TV remote.”
So, when I grabbed my Bible and decided to read The Letter of James, I shouldn’t have been surprised that everything He had to tell me was already perfectly worded and set to be read. On this night, it was through James that God spoke to me. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
This was an idea that was plugged into me during the beginning of my faith journey – the idea that it was not enough to just be a
Christian, rather that we must act as Christians. Later in James, this concept is one again slammed home. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14).
God couldn’t have been clearer with His words. At this time in my faith, it took His, “come on, man!” method. In this moment, I had figured it
out. Faith wasn’t enough. That was the easy part. That was step No. 1. I couldn’t just sit around praying and thinking about faith. It was an active duty that I was now a part of.
Now, it was time to do something with my faith. And not just something I do on Sunday mornings or every other month. This is about being a Christian outside of simply attending church. It’s about being the church in every moment. I need to be active in my faith – how I treat people, how I help those in need, how I can help save others – all the time. It needed to be my priority, above anything else. I’m not talking about just giving $5 to a homeless person, traveling across the world to do missionary work or any other one-time acts. I am talking about living a life that is dedicated to God, love and others – as much as possible. Certainly, those acts should be a part of it. But everyday, I must act and speak with love, and do it at all times – to move throughout life with God and others in my heart.
It’s certainly not easy. But if we are to strive to live with that mentality, then surely the deeds will come naturally.
I need to learn how to do God’s will on a daily basis, before any of my own selfish desires. It’s time for me to learn how to live that new way of life.
Email Jimmy Spencer directly at jimmypspencer@gmail.com
