Daily Devotion for January 30, 2006

False Security

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:22 

 

Living here in the Midwest we get our fair share of driving on snow-covered roads. One thing I have noticed is that when snow has deteriorated the road conditions, those in 4x4s drive at the same speed as when the roads were dry. I have talked to some people about why they do this and they tell me that when they put the 4-wheel drive on, they believe this will negate the road conditions. While a 4-wheel drive will help pull a vehicle through snow, it does not compensate for the loss of friction that the snow induces. Having a 4-wheel drive gives a false sense of security, so, often their vehicles slide off the road. I saw much of this last week.

 

Sometimes I wonder if this applies to the church also. Sometimes just going to church can give us a false sense of security, making us think that we've done all we need to do. While I see church parking lots filled on Sunday, what are these same people doing in their communities the rest of the week? While there are many church people out there in the community helping, this number is by far smaller than church membership. There is more to Christianity than just going to church and sitting there for an hour a week. Today's verse says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." There is more to our faith than just being saved. There must be action in that faith as a response to our salvation. Without this action, faith is dead, as James says. There is a difference between just existing and living. We can exist in the church but never live in the Word. There is more to faith than just sitting in a pew. There is a journey that we take as Christians and it starts with our salvation, rather than ending with it.

 

Prayer
Lord, You showed your great love for us when your Son died for us on the cross. We have received that which is more precious than anything on the earth. May that gift you have given us change our lives and may we show others that change through our actions so that you may be glorified. Help us to serve others as you served others.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
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