Faith and Action
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
14 My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show you really do have faith? Can this kind of faith save you? 15 If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, 16 you shouldn't just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? 17 Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead! 18 Suppose someone disagrees and says, “It is possible to have faith without doing kind deeds.” I would answer, “Prove that you have faith without doing kind deeds, and I will prove that I have faith by doing them.” 19 You surely believe there is only one God. That's fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear. 20 Does some stupid person want proof that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Well, our ancestor Abraham pleased God by putting his son Isaac on the altar to sacrifice him. 22 Now you see how Abraham's faith and deeds worked together. He proved his faith was real by what he did. 23 This is what the Scriptures mean by saying, “Abraham had faith in God, and God accepted him.” That's how Abraham became God's friend. 24 You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what we believe. 25 For example, Rahab had been a prostitute. But she pleased God when she welcomed the spies and sent them home by another way. 26 Anyone who doesn't breathe is dead, and faith that doesn't do anything is just as dead!
James 2:14-26
9 Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. 10 Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. 11 Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. 12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. 13 Take care of God's needy people and welcome strangers into your home.
Romans 12:9-13
Memory Verse
Romans 12:9
9 Be sincere in your love for others. Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good.
Has someone ever surprised you by doing something kind for you? Maybe your brother did one of your chores without being asked. Perhaps your neighbor brought over some cookies, just because? Maybe your classmate helped clean up the juice you spilled? How did you feel when someone did an unexpected kind thing for you? We know someone cares for us because their actions let us feel it.
In Romans 12:9, God says, “Be sincere in your love for others.” In James 2:14-16, God tells us that if we truly have faith, we can’t help but also do good things!
What does this faith in action look like? There are countless ways to show your faith in what you do every single day! Here are just a few examples: Help someone in your family with their chores. Read to a little sibling. Help to clean up a mess without being asked. Pick some wild flowers for a grandparent. Show your love for people in your community by saying hello and smiling when you meet them on the street. Rake leaves, pick up trash, or shovel snow for a neighbor. You can put your faith into action anytime, anywhere! Ask God to help you find ways to act in love for the people around you. Once you get in this habit, God will show you new opportunities every day!
Prayer
God, please help me see the times and places that I can show my love for you by putting that love into action. I want to show my faith with my actions because I love you. Amen.Related Resources
Lisa VanderKuip
Lisa VanderKuip is a Learning Resource Teacher in Ontario, Canada. Each day, she enjoys sharing her love of reading with her students. One of her greatest joys is seeing kids who are struggling unlock the reading code. In her spare time, Lisa loves to golf with her husband and two grown children.