Thots from the Hen House

  

May 19th, 2012

God of the People of Faith

 

I praise God this morning that He is God of the people. Through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, He made Himself approachable. Else, someone like me who is so unworthy would never be fit to go before the throne of God. As I read James 2 this morning I was so humbled by who God is, and who He said I should be. The only thing that I have that God wants is faith.

Faith has no money

If I had to buy my way into Heaven, I’d have to pray it was an old fashioned 5 & Dime store, because that’s about all I got. There’s not enough money in this world to buy you a bolt in the mansions of Glory.

James 2:1-5 ~ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

God knows us. He knows that we are prone to be a respecter of persons. So there tucked into the pages of the book of James He tells us not to disrespect Him by disrespecting others. Rich or poor, we get to Heaven the same way, Faith.

Faith has Mercy

James 2:14-17 ~ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Faith is an act. It’s not something that lies dormant inside the body. Having faith in Christ and opening up your heart to Him is literally allowing Him to work through you. The same mercy that Christ extended to us by forgiving every wretched thing we’ve ever done or will do, is the same mercy He wants you to extend to others. It’s only fair. When we say we have faith in Christ it should come with evidence.

Faith has a Mission

James 2:25-26 ~  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Why did Rahab do what she did? Rahab had heard of the God of Israel, and what great and mighty things He had done for them and her belief in what she had heard caused her to want to be a part of the mission of God. It is no different for us. Once we receive the gift of salvation through faith we’re a part of the plan. God’s plan for Rahab was that she and her family be saved by her act of faith. Our mission is to see our family and friends saved as well, and they can be through the evidence of His work in our lives. Rahab wanted for herself and her family what the children of Israel had, the protection and favor of God. Our mission is to show outwardly what we have received inwardly. It’s not always easy.

I was just as unworthy as Rahab the harlot, if not more so. Praise God He gave someone a Mission to show their faith to me and because of it I am one of His own.

 

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Two-Lane Livin’ Magazine is produced by Stumptown Publishing, LLC. More than 95% of the content within the magazine is exclusive, written by columnists within the Central West Virginia region. The magazine is now the largest independent publication in West Virginia, circulated at 16,000 copies each month — with less than 1% of any issue left unread. Delivered to more than 520 locations in 20 counties, Two-Lane Livin’ is the largest, farthest-reaching, free publication in the area. Our circulation includes all or parts of: Calhoun, Clay, Wirt, Roane, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Ritchie, Braxton, Lewis, Doddridge, Pleasants, Webster, Wood, Jackson, Nicholas, Kanawha, Tucker, Tyler and Upshur Counties.

In a world that’s highly focused on twenty and thirty something’s, it’s not always easy to find information that honors our age group (well... almost my age group!) It's an honor to have been asked to be a contributor!

Loretta Hathaway-(...) wrote:
Monday, April 16, 2012, 04:21 PM
I want readers to understand the level of commitment that SHARI JOHNSON has for our LORD and Savior, JESUS Christ. She's a writer, a speaker, a singer, and a teacher. In her spare time she prepares our weekly church bulletin. Please consider having Shari for your teen or ladies retreats. May I add that you will be blessed abundantly. I've shared many sessions with my sister, Shari, and we both shed tears of praise for how our GOD has changed our lives. Her spoken word is scriptural. Her songs will melt the coldest heart. AND...."I thank my God upon every remembrance of her.." Shari, God bless you BEYOND MEASURE...may He fill your cup until it over runneth...and those who hear you be blessed!
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