Showing faith, love in action

23 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity. Someone might claim, “You have faith and I have action.” But how can I see your faith apart from your actions? Instead, I’ll show you my faith by putting it into practice in faithful. ~ James2 14-18(CEB)


Claiming that I believe in God doesn’t bring anyone out of the darkness. Feeling bad that there are hungry people in the world does nothing to put food in their bellies. It is easy to read the Bible, but what is difficult is putting what I have read into practice. In Matt 25:42-42 it says “I was hungry and you didn’t give me food to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me anything to drink. I was a stranger and you didn’t welcome me. I was naked and you didn’t give me clothes to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” These are not words I want to hear directed to me by Christ. I might be tempted to say but Lord, when did I see you hungry, thirsty, naked, sick or in prison? Then He will answer, “I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.”(Matt 25:45)  He doesn’t say, anything about my “seeing” these needs. He just commands that I meet the needs.

Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians “If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever” (1Cor 13:1-3).

How can I claim faith if I lack action? Love is that action. Love is the response to the faith I claim in Christ. The question of love to Peter was not just for Peter, it is for me too. “Do you love Me?”, Christ asks. It is not just a simple answer of “Yes, Lord, I love You.” He asks me to put my love in action. He says to me, “Take care of my sheep” (John 21:16).

Again I find myself Lord, convicted of Your words. Help me this day to show my love for You to those I meet, even if it means that I have to go out of my comfort zones to find those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick or in prison. May I be Your hands and feet. May I be love in action. Amen.

Basic questions

21 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God. Whoever loves someone who is a parent loves the child born to the parent. This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep God’s commandments. This is the love of God: we keep God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not difficult, because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith. Who defeats the world? Isn’t it the one who believes that Jesus is God’s Son? ~1 John 5:1-6(CEB)

“How do I know that I love God?” “How does God want me to live?” “How do I know that I belong to God?” 1 John 5:1-6 tells me, everyone who believes that Jesus is Christ has been born from God. God wants me to love all His children. I show my love of others and of God by keeping God’s commandments.

This isn’t the only scripture speaking to me of God’s love and how I should remain in His love. John 15:9-12 says “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you.”

So I show my love of God by keeping His commandment (1John 5:2). What is His commandment? Love each other just as I have loved you (John 15:12). In verse 13 of John 15 Jesus tells His disciples “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.” How much did Jesus love me? Jesus died on the cross so that I might live. Wow, and I am to show that much love to others? How do I die to self so that others might know Jesus’ love? One thing is time I give up to serve others, to I help the hungry, to minister to the lost. When I put self on a shelf even for a little while, I find myself in Christ’s love as I become his hands and feet to those around me. Verse 11 of John 15 tells us that Jesus has told us these things so that our joy might be complete.

Heavenly Father, I want to find myself in Your love this day. Help me set my own wants and desires aside when someone’s need is great. Give me eyes that I may see these needs. Give me a heart to love others as You would have me love. Amen.

Be God’s mouthpiece

20 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: ,

For those who want to love life and see good days should keep their tongue from evil speaking and their lips from speaking lies. ~1 Peter 3:10

 

The words we speak can be a blessing or a curse. Once words are unleashed they can never be retrieved. We can ask for forgiveness for the words we have said but we can never take them back. How differently would we live our lives if we thought about this fact before we ever said a word? If I thought ahead how hurtful my words might be before I say them would I ever say them in the first place? Often I think I would not. What is said out of anger or carelessness many times brings regrets and deep sorrows.

I want to live a life of love. I want to see good days. If this means that I need to slow down my own reaction to situations before I respond, if it means that I need to not take offense so quickly then I want to work harder on my part of the picture. I want to take that deep breath before I let words fly. I want to think about the reason the other person may have acted or said what they said. I want to be a solution not an aggravation to the problem.

I can think of a relationship or two that I have lost because I did not slow down and think ahead. Misunderstandings can have disastrous results. Some bridges can never be mended. I don’t want to live a life full of regrets or long for relationships that could have been different. I want to live and love as Jesus would have me do.

Heavenly Father, help me to guard my words. May the words that I speak be carefully thought through. May I be known as a reflection of your love even in the things that I say this day. Amen.

Chosen for a priesthood

17 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , ,

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are Gods own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. ~1 Peter 2:9 (CEB)

 

The first few words in this verse jump out at me and grab my heart. I am chosen. If you know a little Bible history you know that once it was the Jewish race that was chosen to carry God’s truth to the world. When Jesus came into the world He established a fulfillment of the law and all races are now the chosen. But what have I been chosen for?

I am part of a royal priesthood now. My character my behavior, everything I say and do should reflect the fact that I am part of Christ’s royal priesthood. I have to admit I sometimes don’t act very royal. I also forget that I am to share with others that I once was in darkness but that Jesus came into that darkness, brought me up out of that darkness into the light of his saving grace. I forget that I am to seek out the lost and share with them the truths that I have learned and stored in my heart. 2 Thes 3:5 says, “May the Lord lead your hearts to express God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”

Sometimes it seems strange to think that I have been “saved” so that I might go out and speak to others about God and what He has done for me. 1 Peter 2 is built around this verse 9 and calls us to a Holy Living. Our new birth is not a magical event that changes us instantly into the likeness of Christ but a daily journey. Part of that journey is seeing those along my way that need someone to reach out to them. In sharing my salvation story it not only could provide someone with a hope but also reminds me of where I have been. This reminder helps my personal journey and helps to keep me on the right path.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for what you have done in my life. I thank you that you sought me out in the darkness and walked with me until I was ready to come out into the light. May I in my thankfulness remember to see with your eyes those who may be stuck in darkness. May I help them to see there is a hope and that hope is You. Amen.

Shelter in the storm

09 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags: , , , , , ,

You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, a hiding place from the storm, a shade from the heat. When the breath of tyrants is like a winter storm. ~ Isaiah 25:4 (CEB)

I attended a meeting one night and the facilitator accused some of us of not being thrilled to be there. He asked us to think of a word that described our feelings. When I thought about how I was feeling, I decided that I felt pretty good and I was glad to be there that night. At the same time I realized that this was not a complete picture of what I was feeling. On the surface I felt happy and peaceful, but underneath the calm I knew there still raged a storm, a storm that may never find rest this side of heaven.

I think this is what was meant about feeling peaceful despite life’s circumstances. Maybe you are in a storm right now. For you maybe your storm is an alcoholic or drug addict in your life. Maybe someone you love is dying of a terminal illness or you are dealing with grief and great loss. Maybe you personally are suffering with drugs, alcohol or a terminal illness. Maybe your financial situation is just about to swallow you whole. Despite the storms that may never cease this side of heaven we find verses in the Bible that tell us that we are not alone. That someone walks along with us in the storm. Isaiah 25:4 even tells me that I can hide away from the storm, find refuge from my distress. How do I find refuge from the storms? In fellowship with other Christians, reading the Word, singing hymns, prayer and worship. These things can provide a shelter and a resting place.

Heavenly Father, thank you for providing a shelter in the storms of life. May I frequently seek out your comfort so that I can continue in Your peace. Amen.

A little encouragement goes a long way

08 May 2012 Leave a comment

by jennifermcintyreblog in Devotions Tags:

So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already. ~1 Thessalonians 5:11 (CEB)

 

The power of thankfulness doesn’t just stop with thanking God for the things in our lives it also applies to thanking each other. Sometimes it feels to me that people don’t notice each other anymore. There was a time when we passed people on the street we would say hello. People held doors for each other. Thanked each other for small courtesies like coffee being refilled at a restaurant.

I know that there have been times when I have been guilty of passing people as if I didn’t notice them. Especially if they were strangers to me. I forget how much God has made us for relationships. I forget how much we need each other and those passing moments are important for my well-being as much as the person with whom I have walked right by not noticing.

At a recent retreat that I attended the speaker told us how important hugs were to our well-being. We need 27 hugs a day for our mental and physical health. I think we need to take that a step further to glances toward strangers with a smile and a good morning. To thank yous for small tasks done .Who knows who we might touch in a way that betters their day. Who knows how much it can better our day. A little encouragement goes a long way in adjusting attitudes. That can be some mighty power!

Heavenly Father, I can be so guilty of forgetting the importance of relationships. Please give me courage this day to lift my head and notice the people I come in contact with today.  Help me to make someone else’s day better with my hello or my thank you. May I remember Lord that I am to be your hands and feet to the world even in the smallest of deeds. Amen.

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