A story is told of a European queen, several centuries ago, who left her coachman sitting outside during the winter while she attended the theater. The drama was so heart wrenching that the queen sobbed throughout the entire performance. But when she returned to the carriage and discovered the coachman had frozen to death, she did not shed a tear! She was deeply moved by a fictional tragedy but completely untouched by a real one with which she was directly involved and for which she was even directly responsible.
How could this queen be so heart wrenched over a play and not have any compassion for what was truly happening around her. Her lack of compassion for the coachman brings into question what kind of person she truly was. Her actions displayed her true character. Much can be known about a person’s character by their actions. Jesus said, “that we are known by our fruits, our actions” (Matthew 12:33). The queen in our story revealed by her actions that she in fact had no compassion at all.
In the same way the Bible tells us that if we truly have faith it will be exemplified in our actions, our works. Jesus had a great compassion for people, especially those who were in need. Those who claim to have saving faith in Jesus Christ, and yet have no compassion for those around them they exemplify a dead faith. James chapter 2 verses 15-17 says “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. ”
What good is it if you say you have faith, and yet your character shows something else? You are only fooling yourself. Genuine faith in Jesus Christ is anything but dead, it is a faith that works. It is abundant, peaceful, compassionate, active and victorious. It is a faith that works, not because of anything you can do, but because of what Jesus has done in you, that is of course if you have trusted in Him. Do you have a faith that works?
Would you like to know more? Call us at 425-432-0634: We would love to talk with you, pray for you and help you discover God’s truth and hope for life. Our Web address is www.taylorcreekchurch.org, and our service times are 9 a.m. for Sunday school and 10:15 a.m. for worship. We are located at 21110 244th Ave S.E. Maple Valley. (PAID MESSAGE)
