Ways to Prepare for Christ’s Return Day 7: Keep On Doing the Work Jesus Left Us to Do | James 2:14 — 26
As I sit here writing this, it is the night before the election. We have many questions and we wonder who the victor will be in many different races, especially the presidential race. But for us, no matter who wins, what will be different? I say nothing. I say that we should imitate God, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But what will that look like?
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples (and us) the Great Commission. We are to spread His message to others, disciple them, and baptize them. Nothing complicated in the message. But how does this fit the Scripture passage for today? As believers, we believe that God is Who He says He is. But we can’t stop there. We must act on it. Verses 17 and 18 are key to making this point. Faith without action is dead! Take the example of Abraham, mentioned in James 2. He was ready to offer up his son to God as a sacrifice. Why? Because God told him too. God was testing his faith. (For the full story, read Genesis 22.) Abraham knew that his son was a promise from God and was the means by which God would fulfill his promise to Abraham. Abraham had faith that his son would come back to him even if he were killed. His action was an expression of his faith. And because of his great faith, it was credited to him as righteousness.
So I say to you, if you have faith as a believer, then act on it. God has given you special gifts to help you fulfill the Great Commission. Use your gifts. If you don’t know what your gifts are, then get help with figuring them out. But to have these gifts and not use them is not what God intended for us. And don’t stop. The time for us to stop is when we leave our earthly body or Jesus returns for us — whichever comes first. It’s kind of like that old phrase, “Keep on truckin.” For us, it is to keep on doing the work Jesus left for us.
Dave Kellerman