Day 189

Obedience that accompanies faith 

Key Verses: 1, 8, 13, 17, 23, 26

Showing favorites is another way of saying prejudice with actions attached. John points out that prejudice based on wealth is an easy target. We see it being played out in the political arena every day. Taxing the rich, paying their fair share, opportunity for all to rise. These are all words expressing prejudice based on wealth.

But the solution is not for the government to redistribute wealth. John states it simply, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Being Christ-like is the answer. But we live in a post-Christian society. We can’t expect non-believers to act the way we ourselves are not willing to act. If we lived this out, people would be drawn to Jesus. “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

But too often we are not willing to love this way. We judge by looking at someone and choosing not to give to them in their hour of need because they fit a certain profile. We think we deserve the wealth and they don’t because ______. You can fill in the blank with any number of things. It is still showing favoritism.

Biblical faith is a faith that is alive and active in our lives. It matches our words with deeds. Faith always moves us to action. Faith that just sits in the chairs on Sunday is dead faith. Faith that changes us on the inside, changes us on the outside as well. That is the way it has always been.

John gives us the example of Abraham. If it is true of Abraham, then it must be true for us. Abraham had the knife raised to sacrifice his son. At that point, even though he had had faith in his heart before, God showed him the ram caught in the thicket. When we put our inner faith into action, then we have Biblical faith.

Rahab the prostitute is an example of faith in action. She put her own life at risk to obey God. Faith isn’t always comfortable or safe. Sometimes our faith put into action will put us at the crosshairs of someone’s aim. In those moments God promises to preserve our eternity, not our life. Some die.

We are talking about the kind of faith here. If someone says they have faith in Christ, but their lives are not moving, questions arise about the quality of faith. Biblical faith always moves us forward, outward, reaching toward God and others. We can’t stagnate and continue to say we have faith. Faith must be growing, changing us and challenging us to do something about the plight of others.