FAITH & ACTION

Dining with Jesus Christian Episodes

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Can you think of a significant belief that you hold that has never influenced your choices, your actions, or your attitudes? Try as I might, I have struggled to articulate a real point of faith or belief that does not work its way into my choices or attitudes. It seems to me that those points of belief that I claim to be of significance, all have an impact on me in real and meaningful ways. 

Test

This is one of the great truths of faith. What we really believe to be right and true cannot be fully understood until it is put to the test. When we act on what we hold to be right, we find the value of that belief. When we choose to allow our faith to impact our emotions and our choices, we see the true worth of what we hold to be most true. 

Teaching

There is a teaching that speaks to this point in the conversation that Jesus Christ had with his disciples as he worked on trying to help them understand the significance of his impending death and resurrection. 

In this teaching, Jesus is heard explaining to his disciples the reason why he was so unwilling to show his glory to all mankind in one grand gesture. Jesus made it plain that faith in Christ is what God wants for his people and that grand actions, miracles, signs, and wonders do not impact the heart and soul like acting on one’s beliefs. 

Listen to how Jesus Christ made this point:

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

(John 14:23-24 NIV11) 

Show

If we say we love Jesus, a statement based on our faith in Christ, then this statement of faith will show up in our choices. In this case, real love for Jesus Christ will result in our choice to set aside sin and rebellion in exchange for a willingness to obey the commands and example of Jesus Christ.

Refuse

Conversely, those who say they love Jesus but refuse to follow his lead are not being honest about their faith in the Lord. If our faith does not impact our choices, it cannot be said to be a real and living faith. 

This point was echoed by the half-brother of Jesus, a man named James. In the passage that follows, James made this point in a slightly different way. 

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that —and shudder.

(James 2:14-19 NIV11)

Seek Opportunities

The point we need to hear today is that real faith impacts our choices, our attitudes, and our opinions. If we truly believe that Jesus is the Lord over our lives and the Savior of our souls, then we will turn to him and seek to learn from him. 

As we learn from the one we claim to love, this faith and this love will lead us to seek out opportunities to put our faith into action.  

Clearly

In this message, James makes it clear that real faith can only be seen and understood by you and I as it is put into action. 

Faith is seen best when it is put to the test. 

Ask

As you get ready to face what is in front of you today, ask yourself: 

  •   How will I put my faith in Jesus Christ to work today?
  •   What impact will my claim that Jesus is my Lord and Savior have on my attitude today?
  •   How will my trust in Jesus lead me to face the trials and tests that lie before me?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I want to proclaim my love for you first and foremost. My actions and attitudes do not always flow from that truth, but my love for you is real and it is changing me from the inside out. I need your help today as I want to put my faith into real action. Give me strength enough to take the first step. I love you Lord!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH


Worked at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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