6. We Don’t Do What We Say
Slide 5 of 8
“You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:20 NIV)
James is passionate about our obedience to the Lord, but not in a legalistic, rule-following, check-list to be loved kind of way. God looks at our hearts. He wants us to wholeheartedly obey Him, because we recognize His love for us and desire for it to be reciprocal.
That being said, faith without deeds is useless. When we love God, know Jesus and follow faithfully (not perfectly), the evidential deeds (obedient way we love the people placed in our lives) become part of our everyday lives.
7. Our Priorities (or Lack of)
“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:5 NIV)
God has made it clear throughout Scripture, that He comes first. Trying to live without placing God first is like walking around with our underwear on outside of our pants. Something would clearly be off. For Christ followers, it may not be as obvious as the underpants example, but the parallel to how we are to be living our lives is serious.
How can we be prepared to walk out into the world without letting God prepare our hearts each day? Putting Him first is literally putting Him first. Reverting our thoughts to Him in prayer and seeking Him in His word each day.
Our heart is where our time is. So let's spend more time with the Lord.
8. Impatience
“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
It’s hard to express our trust in God when we’re losing our patience. We lose our patience with the people in our lives, and in situations God has asked us to wait. Patience is a virtue we are supposed to be watering in our lives. Patience with ourselves, so we don’t fall into a legalistic view of our faith, and pretend to be people we’re not, even to God Himself. He loves us, as we are, messed up and broken. He asks us to be faithful, and patient, as He daily sanctifies our hearts.
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