Jam 2:18 - 22 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works. You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Do you see how faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete?

Do you show Jesus to others with your life? What does that mean? Your probably familiar with the old adage, “Walk the walk and talk the talk.” Which do you do? There are a lot of people who stand up on a Sunday morning and sing and listen to the preacher but walk out of the church and spend Monday through Saturday doing whatever they want to without a second thought to God. Someone once said that the biggest obstacle to Christians today are the ones who profess Him by their mouths and deny Him by their lifestyle. How are you living? Does this mean follow every commandment and try to live a good life?

James very clearly tells us that our works alone aren’t going to save us. It’s our faith. What do you have complete faith in? Is it the 4-wheel drive in your truck when it snows? Or is it the size of your bank statement that you can buy anything you want? Jesus wants us to have complete faith in Him. He wants to demonstrate that faith in our lives through a love relationship with Him. Jesus doesn’t want us to stick to a code of behavior or a way of talking as a way of demonstrating His love for us to others. No, He wants us to show this love through the way we live everyday. If we live only by the rules but feel no compulsion to BE different, then we are living a legalistic way. Jesus came to demonstrate the love of God through sacrificing His life for us. He died. He was tortured. For you and me. How can we not love someone who put Himself on the line for us? He took the bullet.
James also tells us that when Jesus was on the earth and doing all the things he was doing, He was operating out of a love relationship with the Father. (Whaaat?) Jesus was only doing the things the Father wanted Him to do. He had no choice in the matter. Because Jesus loved His Father so, He naturally did what the Father wanted done. It was a win-win situation. Jesus loves us and wants to bring us into His loving embrace. For instance, He gives us a husband who loves us and wants to live with us for better or for worse. He also gives us the commandment to not commit adultery. How are the two related? God gives us an opportunity to experience love and security here on earth with someone chosen by Him. If we commit adultery and destroy that perfect opportunity for love and security then we experience pain and sadness. So, if we love our husband and we love Jesus, why in the world would we commit adultery? Win-win situation.

Simply put, walking the walk of faith and demonstrating God’s perfect love to others is just BEING who we are IN CHRIST every day. Loving others and treating them with compassion and forgiveness. Giving people a little latitude. Loving the sinner but hating the sin. With our eyes and our hearts focused on the cross.