FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE

Have you ever wondered why things sometimes seem “stuck” in the Kingdom of God? We know that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, yet sometimes we don’t get the desired results. Our guest minister, Todd Bailey, gave us some insight on this in today’s message explaining that sometimes we just need to see something from a different perspective.

To have faith is very important in our walk with God for without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6) In Luke 18:8 we see that Jesus is looking for faith, and James 5:13-15 talks about the prayer or faith that brings healing and forgiveness, but what if there is something missing? Galatians 5:6 tells us that faith works through love. Romans 5:8 clearly states that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, and it is the love of God that we see working in John 3:16.

So then, can we be full of faith and still have no results? If we look at I Corinthians 13, decidedly yes! You can have faith that will move mountains, but if it is without love, it means nothing. Your faith cannot work without love. If you have been born again, the love of God has been given to you through the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5), but we can separate ourselves from God by not walking in love. As Christians, we are called to live, move, and have our being in love. When we walk in love, our faith is active. Thus, many Christians are only half plugged in. We are not connected. We might feel that we have great faith, but without love it cannot work.

What are the attributes of love? “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Love never fails! (I Corinthians 13) Jesus explained love in His own words in Luke 6:27-44. “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” (Verses 27-31)

Jesus calls us to be the salt and the light, and these are two elements that cannot be changed by environment. As Christians, we are called to be a representation of God’s love on the earth. Ephesians 4:14-15 sums up what God’s love can do in and through us. “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

If we desire to see our church grow, it is essential that we love people and love God. As we head toward a new year, let us not make resolutions. Rather let us make a commitment to keep our faith working by walking in God’s love.