Faith in action

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven Matthew 5: 16

Recently my attention was drawn at a church prayer meeting to an unusual piece of equipment being used by a musician. It looked like a small industrial chimney, black and standing two metres tall and it was obviously something to do with sound.  Then I noticed the word Bose on it. Immediately I knew it must be a speaker but the word Bose means a lot more than just a sound system. It means a quality sound system.

We carry the name Jesus which means we are not just Christians, it should also mean we are people of quality. People who can be depended on, are reliable, honest, trustworthy, men and women of integrity. Christians should also be people of good works.  

We know that good works do not save us. Only Jesus’ work on the cross saves us and we receive it by grace. Nothing we can do can earn it. It is a gift from God.  However as James says:  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds James 2: 17 – 18

Jesus certainly showed his faith by his deeds. When the religious leaders of his day wanted to stone him he asked them which miracle they were stoning him for. They replied they wanted to stone him for claiming to be the Son of God. In response he told them that even if they did not believe his words, they should believe he was God’s Son because of the miracles or good works that he did.  He did the works of his Father which were works of great compassion and kindness.  (John 10: 37)

David Cameron in an Easter message in 2015 said, ‘The Church … is doing great works across the country. When people are homeless, the Church is there with hot meals and shelter. When people are addicted or in debt, suffering or grieving the Church is there. Across Britain Christians don’t just talk about loving thy neighbour, they live it out in faith schools and prisons and in community groups.’

This is a testimony we should be proud of.  We should be the leading philanthropists of our day but more than that; we should be miracle workers.  The days of miracles are not over, they should be increasing as each one of us reaches out in faith to God so blind eyes see, the lame walk, the sick are healed and the dead raised.   Jesus said we would do even greater works than he did. 

When Jesus preached the Gospel about the kingdom, he often preceded this with miracles.  In the same way as we reach out to our communities with love and practical works of kindness as well as supernatural miracles, we build a platform upon which the Gospel easily glides.  People believed in Jesus, not just because of what he said but what he did.  In the same way, people will come to faith, the greatest miracle of all, as we reach out to them with good deeds.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds Hebrews 10: 24