2023/08/13 – James 2: Partiality & Faith Without Works

[Jerry Starling]

Online Activity Today 

 

Bible Study…............9:30 a.m...........Live on Facebook.com/central.cofc  

Worship…...............10:30 a.m...........Live on Facebook.com/central.cofc  

Evening Worship......6:00 p.m...........Live on Facebook.com/central.cofc  

 

Reading: James 2 – Partiality & Faith Without Works 

 

Verse for Today: 

  

(James 2:26) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 

 

Daily Devo 

 

James had little patience with partiality. A man comes into your assembly in fine clothing and gold rings. Another comes in dirty, smelly clothes. You show the first to a seat but tell the other to stand or sit by your feet. 

 

Such partiality is not acceptable. James reminds them it is the rich who oppress you, dragging you into court, while blaspheming the name of Jesus. He also asked, “Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and be heirs of the kingdom” 

 

Fulfill the royal law by loving your neighbor. If you show partiality, you sin and are convicted by the law as a transgressor. “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you have transgressed the law. 

 

Act and speak as one judged by the law of liberty. “For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy” (Cf. Matthew 7:1-2). 

 

Faith without Works is Dead. More than sixty years ago, I went with my Uncle Lester to a labor camp where he preached each Sunday. He said, “You cannot get to town on a dead mule or to Heaven with a dead faith.” 

 

James asked, “If you say you believe but have no work, can faith save you? If someone is naked and lacks daily food, and you say, ‘Go in peace. Be warmed and filled.” What good is that?  

 

James used two illustrations. Abraham, the father of the faithful, was counted as righteous when he believed God would make him the father of a great nation. When God tested his faith by sending him to sacrifice Isaac, he went. He passed the test, but “The angel of the LORD said, ‘Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the boy, for now I know you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.’” The angel spoke after Abraham had bound Isaac to the altar on wood ready to burn with his knife in his hand (Genesis 22:9-12). 

 

Likewise, Rahab hid the spies because she believed God would do to Jericho what He had done to Egypt and to Sihon and Og, kings of the Ammonites. (Joshua 2:1-14). She showed her faith by hiding the spies and letting them through the window of her house built into the wall around Jericho. Her faith caused her to help the spies and save her family. She married an Israelite named Salmon and is in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). 

 

Faith, hope, and love are the driving forces of Christian living, but faith is the beginning point. Without faith, you cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). The love within a congregation may keep you coming for a while but if you lose your first love it will not keep you faithful long. 

 

That is why faith needs to live in you as a fountain of living water.  

 

Pray for Your Self: Father, I long for deeper faith, and this is my prayer, in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!  

 

My Prayer for You (and for me) Father, I offer this prayer for all who may read these words. I pray that each of us will put our deepest trust in Jesus and His love for us. This is my prayer, in the holy name of Jesus, AMEN! 

 

Updates for Central 

 

Game Night will be August 19 beginning at 6:30. Bring your favorite game and be prepared for a lot of fun, fellowship, and camaraderie. 

 

Our Next Potluck Fellowship will be August 27. Bring a dish to share, invite your family, friends, neighbors, and have good fellowship and food. 

 

Son Quest will be Labor Day weekend, September 1-3. Final payment is due this Sunday. Make a check payable to the church, mark it for Son quest, and give it to Jerry Holder, Kendra Crist, or Susan Allen. 

 

Our Eastern European Mission “Million Dollar Sunday” contribution will be on September 24. Our entire contribution that day will go to EEM to provide Bibles for the former Soviet bloc nations. Last year, EEM distributed almost two million Bibles, up 24% from 2021. They expect to have more this year. Ukraine also received $2 Million in benevolent help due to the war. 

Shut-ins – Our Members 

 

AT HOME: Pat Brennan * Jack Baugh * Gale Harnish * Pam Hatter * Gussie Keeney*, Carl Bolli * Mary Evans * Steve Mayhue * Tom Jenkins * Ruth & Jesse Matthews, Sr * Rose Hostetler * 

 

IN FACILITIES: Wells Joseph * Sarah Hall * Darlene Hughes * Clifford Jarvis * Lisa Jeminez * Bill Leavitt * Debbie Patton Means * Belinda Pate * Annette Ramirez * Christina Shannon *   

 

Note: These lists of shut-ins are in this Devotional listing on SUNDAYS as a reminder of our shut-in members.  

 

Family & Friend’s Long Term Prayer Requests 

  

Jesse Matthews, Sr. is still in the hospital and is possibly going back to rehab soon, Ruth told me on last Sunday. She needs prayers along with Jesse. 

Pam Hatter: Son, Lee Miller; Diane Faircloth.   

Jesse and Debbi Johnson: Son, Kyle, Kymm, Daughter, Robyn.    

Pat Brennan: Her Family: Sons, P.J. & Kyle, Linda & Dennis Lochman; Meredith & Sean; Mary & Mack.   

Bill Leavitt: Sister, Sherry, friend Sarah in the Phillippines, & Roommate, Gary  

Tom and Becky Jenkins: Daughter & son-in-law, Cathy & Doug Foote, Martha Hovind (Tom’s sister).    

Jennifer San Juan: Daughter, Dawn.   

Pat Duncan: Friends, Joyce & Michele.   

Tom and Tina Phillips: His brother, Joe & nephew, Simon; niece, Mary the daughter of Tina’s sister.  

Joanna Turner Father, Bill Berry & Don Knight.    

Jay & Kelli Evans: Daughter, Emma Lemon; Mother Mary Evans.   

Carl Bolli Niece, Renee Leone-Bolli.   

Lisa Knowles: Daughter, Angela Farr & Sister Stephanie.   

Lorie Cantrell: Mother, Kathy    

Helen Rogers: Cousin Kayla   

Robbie Hatter: Niece, Kayla  

 

OTHER PRAYER NEEDS 

Belinda Pate is at home but is not walking well.  

Sarah, Bill Leavitt’s friend in the Philippines, has broken her hand and is in the hospital. He asks us to pray for her. 

Carol Grandey, Brenda Schmidt’s sister, is home following surgery. Now, pray for her rapid recovery. 

Jesse Matthews, Sr. fell, injured his shoulder, and has been in the hospital since early last week. Ruth said last Sunday he might be going into rehab soon. She needs prayers as much as Jesse. 

Kristi Holder is slowly recovering from her surgery last Monday week. It’s taking her longer than she expected, Jerry said, but she is over the initial shock. 

Joy Bland came home from the hospital but has been seeing lots of doctors. She’s hoping to have an MRI soon. Saturday, she said she really needs prayers to help her through. 

Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers. 

Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers. 

Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.