June 13, 2021 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

By Pastor Immanuel Garcera

We Are a Community of Faith: A Matter of Hearts and Hands

Two passages come into mind: faith without deeds is dead and the new commandment. We often hear the passage of James 2:

“ 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:15-17)

If we claim to have faith yet do nothing, or do just the bare minimum – believing, is that good enough? The Bible says “you believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.” (James 2:19). As a community of faith we need to express this faith in tangible ways, not to impress people, nor to earn salvation (Ephesians 2), but because God in His word commands us to. Faith simply without works is simply dead.

Not only is it about glorifying God in the things we do as a testament to the legitimacy of our faith, but if we do what Christ commands us to do – the world will know that we are His disciples.

John 13:34-35 tells us “a new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The new commandment gives us this promise that as God’s people – if we act on our faith, and love one another, the world will know that we are His.

But is this something we as a community are committed to do? Or is it much easier to simply say “hi” or rub elbows in church on a Sunday and see them again until the next week? Isn’t it much easier to just believe and have faith than to “show you my faith by my deeds” (James 2:18)? By all means, yes! But we are called for more: to love beyond the minimum amount of action required, for fellowship, as God’s workmanship – to do good works. To love one another because we have faith in the One that calls us, beckons us, who loved us first.

To God be all the glory, forever and ever!