Faith or Works, James 2:18-20

I will show you my faith by what I do. James 2:18

When I read through the three verses for today, I thought, “Well that is really just more of the same from yesterday. What else is there here?”

Then I began searching using the Blue Letter Bible App for the instances where “faith” and “deeds” show up in the Bible. It was the words of Jesus that spoke volumes to me today.

• Jesus asks, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40
• Jesus says, “Wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” Matt 11:19
• “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” John 4:34
• To his disciples, “Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work.” John 10:37
• “The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” John 14:10
• “Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

In this faith vs. works conversation, I have seen it as a Paul of Romans verses James. Here it is clearly Jesus who calls himself and us to a faith that acts, a faith that shows up mightily in God working through us. James writes to the believers in a time before the Bible was compiled. His words mirror Jesus’s words that a genuine faith DOES.

Lord Jesus, help us in our unbelief today. Show us where we fear the storms around us and open our hearts to have a greater faith in you. Remove anything blocking us from being filled to overflowing with your Spirit, that we might have something to give. May our actions stem from a heart transformed by your Love and not just a list of “should”. May the work you have for us today nourish us even as it did you.

Also in James Bible Study Reflections