....Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. - James 2:18
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and in anguish as He anticipated His approaching fate, He knew He was alone even though His disciples were nearby. God had now placed Him in the position of suffering His horrific fate by Himself in human form in order that mankind might be offered the gift of forgiveness and salvation.
We Christians know that the only way to salvation is through our belief in Him by faith, but I think it is also important that we listen to the words of James as he tells us that if we truly have faith we will live that faith. Living that faith means that everything we do is because of that faith, meaning the we will love and serve others. To love God is a challenge for good over evil due to our weakness and sinful nature, but to love our fellow man, including those who would harm us is something that is the ultimate proof of our love for Him. And it expected of us as we live by our faith.
Lord, We thank You for the many blessings that You have given us and we pray that we will always remember that You are the source of everything we have as well as our very being. Help us to be strong in our faith and in so doing to live our faith in everything that we do. Help us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and to always be open to forgiving others who have harmed us through love and by assisting them in also following Your way.
Give us the strength and courage to stand for Your law as expressed in both the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus and never to succumb to the temptations of this world, for the true gift that we seek can only be found by living for You. Keep us secure in knowing that Everlasting Life at Your table is the only thing worth living for since living in this ways puts You first in all we do.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and in anguish as He anticipated His approaching fate, He knew He was alone even though His disciples were nearby. God had now placed Him in the position of suffering His horrific fate by Himself in human form in order that mankind might be offered the gift of forgiveness and salvation.
We Christians know that the only way to salvation is through our belief in Him by faith, but I think it is also important that we listen to the words of James as he tells us that if we truly have faith we will live that faith. Living that faith means that everything we do is because of that faith, meaning the we will love and serve others. To love God is a challenge for good over evil due to our weakness and sinful nature, but to love our fellow man, including those who would harm us is something that is the ultimate proof of our love for Him. And it expected of us as we live by our faith.
Lord, We thank You for the many blessings that You have given us and we pray that we will always remember that You are the source of everything we have as well as our very being. Help us to be strong in our faith and in so doing to live our faith in everything that we do. Help us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and to always be open to forgiving others who have harmed us through love and by assisting them in also following Your way.
Give us the strength and courage to stand for Your law as expressed in both the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus and never to succumb to the temptations of this world, for the true gift that we seek can only be found by living for You. Keep us secure in knowing that Everlasting Life at Your table is the only thing worth living for since living in this ways puts You first in all we do.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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