“Doing” Along with “Being” - Faith Without Works Is Dead (by Assoc. Pastor Linda Pugsley)

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​Most of us have read that verse in James 2:17, “Faith without works is dead”. But what does that really mean? For many Christians, they are told it means they are to fill their lives full to the brim with “works”. That means feeding the poor, volunteering at a hospital or nursing home, doing Bible studies, street ministries, youth programs, bible camps, visiting the sick…often until they are sick, literally!
 
Nope, try again. God never intended for us to “good works” ourselves to death. Satan will be happy to accommodate you there, though. I have often said that if Satan can’t get you with bad works, he’ll be glad to wipe you off the face of the earth by guilting you into a burden of good works.
 
Only God can give you strength and wisdom for what He calls you to do. He does require us to do more than sit in a cave and pray but there is a prerequisite for all this. John 6:28-29 gives us the answer, “They said therefore to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”
 
In order to do the “doing”, you have to be practiced in the “being”. There’s no way around this. The “being” includes giving Him thanks, making known His deeds, singing to Him, glorifying His name, speaking of His wonders, practicing being glad, seeking His strength and such things as these.
 
Immersed in God and His Spirit is the only way to accomplish the works He calls us to. We must be passionate in our pursuit of Him and His plan for this time and epoch. We have to be hot for God and not cold.
 
Revelation 3:15-16 starkly reminds us, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Now God is not saying He prefers you to be cold…it’s the hot He’s going for but if you’re “cold”, He has an opportunity to make you on fire for Him. If you are “lukewarm” you are mixed and are neither…you’ve not made a choice for Him. You’ve mixed Him and the world around you and that is not the choice God requires.

• COLD = NOT KNOW GOD-DENY HIM = DEATH
• HOT = KNOW GOD – LIVE FOR HIM = LIFE
• LUKEWARM = TRY TO MIX BOTH = HE WILL SPIT YOU OUT OF HIS MOUTH

 
Be hot, full of zest for the Lord and His works. Continue with “being” so you can be involved with His “doings”. The “spiritual life” is living the ordinary life extraordinarily well!
 
Dad’s – are you acting as the “Christ” to your wife and kids as the Lord commands?
 
Kids – are you obeying your parents, as unto the Lord?
 
YOU – in your “being” in God…what are you “doing” in God?
 
Thomas Merton, Christian writer, once said, “You can tell more about a monk by the way he uses a broom than by anything he says.” Yes, and so must we shower the world with God’s love, led by His Spirit. Let’s be “hot” for the Lord…let’s be boiling hot for the Lord and do His mighty works in these end times, in His Spirit, in His might.
 
God bless you always.

NOW GO LIVE IT

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