LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH
*(Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture quotes are from the New American Standard Bible – NASB.)

The Book of James is a favorite of my wife, Mary Jane. She relates to this Apostle’s emphasis on things practical. At this point, please read the 2nd Chapter of James. The editors of the edition of the Bible that I am using break this chapter into two parts. The first, vv. 1-13, they have captioned with the heading “The Sin of Partiality,” and it speaks of how we should lovingly treat those who come into our church services equally and not showing favor to the wealthy while denigrating the poor among us. The second section, vv. 14-26 they have captioned with the heading “Faith and Works,” and in this section we read the well-known “faith without works is dead” (v. 20 – KJV, or ‘useless’ NASB).

Many folks are good at arguing theology but not very effective in their witness for Christ, often because they do not put the love of God into action as Jesus so clearly exhorted us to do! His words resonate with us, especially at this time of the year, because He demonstrated that which He taught during the Passover meal He shared with His disciples just prior to His arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

First, in Luke 10, James and John, the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus and asked Him to grant them a request. They wanted the honor to be positioned at His left and His right when Jesus came into His kingdom (in power). In other words, they asked to be Jesus’ chief lieutenants, the first and second in command after Jesus and thus placed in authority over their fellow disciples. In verse 41 we read, “Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John.”

Listen to Jesus’ response: Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever whishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not tome to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Luke 10:42-45)

In John 13, then, we see Jesus “walking the walk,” and not just “talking the talk.” (That is what we admire, isn’t it? ~ Those who ‘practice what they preach!) In John 13, in preparation to eat the Passover Meal, what we have come to call ‘the Last Supper,’ Jesus washed His disciples feet! (This filthy and unpleasant task was the assigned to the very least slave of the household, the one who was ‘at the bottom of the pecking order,’ so to speak.)

When He had finished, Jesus addressed His disciples and said, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord (which means ‘Master’), for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as a I did to you. Truly, Truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who went him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (addition added for clarity) . . . . To Be Continued