This is why my blog is called Faith without works.

When I was a little kid, I gave my life to God in a small prayer. Everyone knows the one when you are sitting in church and the pastor up front says, "Ok, everyone lets bow our heads. Now with every head bowed and every eye closed - let me ask you a couple questions. By show of hands, is there anyone in here that has not accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior?" If you raise your hand then you get ask the next question. - "If you raised your hand today will you pray a small prayer with me." And then you say the prayer because that’s why you raised your hand. And then church is over and that’s it. You walk out of church a changed person. You get back in your car and listen to the rap songs about killing and then go home and watch the Exorcism of Emily Rose? (First horror movie I could think of) Or you go back home and emotionally or physically or mentally abuse your wife or kids or family. Or you hop in your car go home and drink your sorrows away instead of relying on God. Or you smoke a joint thinking surely God made this plant so I should be able to smoke it even though it makes me feel like someone else, RIGHT? I apologize for being blunt but these are the things of life. These are the things that we want God to change. Well for me, I always thought there was more to this step than just saying the prayer. The all magical prayer that got YOUR name in the book of life. Boy was I right. So many churches will preach there congregation into heaven but not ask them to back it up. I always thought to myself, God is there not more that we need to do. Instead of bluntly putting it out there for the people to see, we just ask them to come and pray that simple prayer. No back up, no follow up, no questions asked. Just say the prayer and get into heaven. Now, first off, don't get me wrong because I do believe that you have to accept Jesus Christ as your savior and give him all the glory, all while admitting that you are a sinner and asking for only his forgiveness. This is pretty cool because when you ask for forgiveness, and no matter what you have done in life, He is going to love you for you and want to be there for you and most of all, give you the forgiveness you so desperately desire. But, while you sit and wait for this amazing spiritual experience to happen, he is still waiting for you to continue on your choice. That prayer that you prayed. That was the first step in many...just keep walking. I am a walking example of this. So many times as a kid I would give my life over to him, only to walk out of the church and go back to my life and the way I was living it. Doing drugs, cussing, being critical of those around me, and never taking the blame for my actions. I never made the LIFE CHANGE. By this I am talking about what James says in chapter 2 verse 26 - "The body without the spirit is dead. In the same way FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD. This is personally a big deal for me. When a youth pastor friend sat down one time and asked me, (this was shortly after I really dedicated my life to Christ), If I believed in the magical prayer. The same one I talked about earlier in this post. The same one that you pray to go to heaven. The same one that when you pray it ALL your worries and things you have to do in life go away. I told him no. I said, to be more specific, that I don't believe it stops there. I believe there is more to that prayer. I believe there is more behind that action. Through talking to him I found this scripture and I wanted it to be the definition of my life. I didn't want others to look at me and see on the inside I was a Christian. I wanted people to look and see by my WORKS that my FAITH was alive. How can I be a true follower of Jesus if all I have is some dead faith to tote around? James could not be more specific. Faith without the works to back that faith, aka a relationship, ministry, love to those around you, is just dead. I don't know about you, but for me, I definitely don't want to tote a dead Jesus around with me but I want the one who is very much alive in my life to be seen by others. I love each and every person out there in this world because I believe that is what Jesus called us to do. In Matthew 22, Jesus was asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” and to this he replied - “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ To me this means to go out and try to tell as many people as I can about Jesus, but I take the second literal as well. I think that this can be expressed through love. Notice the first says to LOVE the Lord you God with ALL your heart and the second says to LOVE your neighbor as yourself. I believe Love is the KEY word here. I think people will always take notice in how you are outwardly toward them. If you love them, something will change in them. Jesus expressed himself in love - this is why Paul says in Galatians that - " The only thing that counts is FAITH expressing itself through love." We can show off our faith by giving just a little love to those around you. Just feeding the homeless man down the street a meal for thanksgiving. Just helping the old lady who can barely walk to get to her car and unpack her groceries. Just telling the people as you leave a store - Have a BLESSED day...not just a good day! These are small examples but I know that YOU can think of many, many more. Let me finish in saying this, I invite you to say a prayer with me over your life. "Jesus, first and foremost I know you died on the cross for me. I know you were beaten and bruised and crushed and spit upon for me. I know you did this because You love me. You took my sin from my life as you hung on that cross as a sacrifice to save my life because you love me. I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness and that you would help me to become the man or woman that you have planned me to be. I give my life to you and know that I can further your kingdom with your help and ONLY your help. I want to be Your example of Love. Thank you for forgiving me. In Jesus name, Amen." Now I will say that if you said that prayer, you are forgiven. A CLEAN SLATE IS GIVEN TO YOU. Make the most of your life and tell everyone that you can about what you have just done. Don't just say that prayer, live the life, get lost in HIS LOVE. Please, contact me if you have made the decision to change your life. I believe this is where some churches falter. The follow up as we are supposed to lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let me give you encouragement and know that MANY people will be praying for you. Remember, Jesus loves you and so do I. Be blessed.



You can contact me at james217_26@yahoo.com or just post a comment and I will respond!