“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” So said an influential leader in Jerusalem named James in chapter 2, verse 26 of the biblical book that bears his name.

When he talks about “faith” in this context he’s referring to a partial understanding of faith. He’s referring to those people who say they agree with certain ideas about God in their heads but never actually live any differently as a result.

To correct this, he says that “faith without deeds is dead.” In other words, if your faith in God is sincere, you will start to live differently as a result. You will necessarily DO something with that faith.

So just as James says that “faith without deeds is dead,” we could frame it in the positive and say that faith WITH deeds is ALIVE!

This may look a bit different for different people:

For some of you, this will look like thoughtful, Christ-centred, and engaged parenting.

For some of you, this will look like formal leadership in some sort of ministry.

For some of you, this will look like proactive care for a neighbour in need.

For some of you, this will look like a behind-the-scenes cause or concern that no one even knows about except you and God.

For some of you, this will look like being that trusted person of integrity who others know they can count on when life gets hard.

Faith without deeds is dead. And faith WITH deeds is ALIVE.

So be alive.

By Matthew Ruttan

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.