James 2: 14--17
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
--NIV
In the name of the One in Whom we have faith, amen.
We sometimes speak as if good works are a bad thing. We focus on justification by faith to the point that we forget that God expects our life to reflect our faith. Thankfully our Lord caused the book of James to be written which reminds us that good works are necessary.
We are to help our brothers and sisters in need. We are to make a difference in this world. We are strive to be like our Savior as much as it is possible. Good works are necessary. Faith without works is dead as Saint James so clearly tells us.
Now we don't say that good works are necessary for salvation--that would be saying too much. Salvation comes from the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ took all our sins of not doing good works on Himself and carried them to the cross. He also did all the good works that He should have, and His good works become our good works by faith.
Because we are forgiven, because we have faith in Jesus, we now can do good works that reflect our faith. These good works are the evidence of our faith in Jesus. May your life be filled with many good works as a witness to the faith that you have. Amen.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the forgiveness You have given us in Jesus Christ. Help us to live a life that shows the faith that we have. Help us never to have a dead faith, but always to live to You, amen.