Daily Scripture Blog

by Rick Warren

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?

James 2:15-16 (NIV)

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Faith is more than something you just feel. Many people confuse emotions and feelings with faith. They come to church and they are moved emotionally, they’re inspired, and they’re stimulated. They get a quiver in their liver and say, “Oh, man! I’m moved!”

In the book of James, we get a brief glimpse at hollow sentimentality. James minces no words. He’s saying, “You go out on the street and you see some homeless person who’s destitute and simply say, “Cheer up,” or “Don’t worry, be happy!” “Feel good!” “Put on a happy face.” “Smile, smile, smile!” For God’s sake, do something!

Faith is practical. It gets involved in people’s hurts. And when you see a need, you do something about it. James says faith is something you do. You don’t just feel it. You have responsibilities.

One by one. Great opportunities to serve God seldom come, but small opportunities surround us daily. You need to look for those little opportunities because faith is not just something you say, and it’s not just something you feel.

The Next Step:

Give your faith feet. Many Christians practice faith within the confines of their climate controlled cathedrals. Find a way out! Serve your community outside the walls of the local church.

Discover the needs. Put your faith feelers out and find out where the need is greatest in your community; then begin to work on a way you can make a difference.

Go global. What could the church do to change conditions half a world away? Plenty! Find a way to join the move toward stopping extreme poverty and the hopelessness of starvation and disease.

Tags: Feelings

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers
and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13 (New Living Translation)

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom.

Galatians 5:13 (The Message)

The more you devote yourself to obeying God, the more freedom you’ll find. This is one of many intriguing paradoxes in the Bible.

Tags: love

Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master.

Romans 12:11 (The Message)

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11 (New International Version)

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Romans 12:11 (New Living Translation)

Tags: tiredness

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:8 (New Living Translation)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8 (New King James Version)

Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish!

Ephesians 2:8 (The Message)

Our freedom in Christ does not mean that anything goes. It means that our salvation is not determined by good deeds or legalistic rules, but by the free gift of God. Freedom, then, is inseparably tied to responsibility.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16 (New Living Translation)

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (New International Version)

So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

Hebrews 4:16 (The Message)

Tags: mercy