GET REAL

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

                                                   -Ephesians 2:1

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 

                                                   -1 Timothy 1:5

DO YOU HAVE A REAL AND GENUINE FAITH?

ARE YOU A TRUE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST OR A
MERE SPECTATOR?

IS YOUR FAITH ALIVE OR DEAD?

Perhaps it is time for you to “GET REAL” regarding your faith. God has a task for you to do using the resources and abilities He has entrusted to you. Maybe for you it is time to examine yourself and see if you are truly of the faith or just playing church.

Look at these practical admonitions from God…

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

                                                 -James 3:17

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

                                               -James 1:22

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

                                              -James 2:17

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

                                             -James 2:24

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
                                          -James 2:26
There are a lot of people that believe in God and who even believe Jesus to be the Christ and Son of God. But remember, just believing is not enough.

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
                                         -James 2:19

What is your next step in serving & honoring God? Once you’ve identified what it is that God wants you to do then “DO IT”. Want help? Seek out someone in the Lord’s church that you respect who you know has your best interest at heart and ask for their counsel. You want to make it a joyful day for one of your church leaders? Tell them you want to take your faith to the next level in serving the Lord. They will be overjoyed to offer guidance. We definitely need more doers of the Word! So…what more can you do to serve and honor the Lord?

JUDGMENT A REASON TO PRAISE!

God knows us so very well. He knows our tendency to put things off (procrastinate) and that may be one reason He has not revealed to us when Judgment Day will come. If we knew exactly when Jesus would return whether it was a year, ten years or a hundred years from now, we would likely postpone our obedience to His Word and refrain from worshiping Him. Because we do not know when He will return we must behave as though it could be very soon.

We have a reason to praise and rejoice because there will be a day when God will set all things right according to His righteousness. Whether we think of the coming Judgment Day or not we worship with joy because we are grateful for what God is doing for us day by day.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness. -Psalm 96 (ESV)