前言：鸵鸟心态

一、活出信仰让爱走动（V1-13）

信心在我们的信仰中非常重要，因为我们所信的神是肉眼看不见的。既然信心不是一个固体，可以看得见或摸到着，它就必须透过行动或行为展现出来，才能让人真实领会。要活出基督信仰的信心与真谛，就要：

1. 不按外貌随世属（V1-4）

在主面前，人人平等。只有信与不信的区别。所以不要按外貌偏待人，也不要跟别人比，然后就掉入自卑，甚至不满于神所量给我们的环境。此外，当我们按外貌偏待人时，就是根据属世的标准来判断人，也就是沾染世俗。

2. 贫穷富足的真相（V5-7）

当我们不尊敬那些敬畏神的贫穷人，反而去奉承那些欺压我们、不信和亵渎神的有钱人，是没信心和不认识神的表现。因不明白富足的真义和真正使人富足的是神。

3. 活出真理活出爱（V8-13）

律法的总纲就是爱。如果我们的信仰无法让人感受到爱，其实我们的信仰就是虚的，毫无意义。真实的信仰是不会按着世界的价值观和利己的方式活出来的。所以我们要避免把这些世属的运作方式和标准带入教会和基督信仰里，要活出分别为圣的生活来。

二、真信心必带出行动（V14-26）

要以信心活出爱神爱人的行动来，基督徒就：

1.不袖手旁观（V14-20）

看到赤身露体，又缺了日用的饮食的人，只叫他平平安安回去而伸出援手，这种没有行为的信心其实就是死的。这样的信心跟魔鬼的信心是一样的。因为魔鬼相信耶稣是神的儿子，也相信祂的救赎，但绝对不会带领人去信主。这也是一种袖手旁观或推卸责任的行为。

2.不保留献上（V21-24）

亚伯拉罕从等了25年以撒才出生、养到30岁，神突然要他把以撒献为祭。这就像是把心头最爱的一块肉给割出来那样。但亚伯拉罕是毫无保留的献上，所以他是活出了神赐给他的信心，以致神称朋友！你渴望神称你为他的朋友吗？就要以信心活出对主毫无保留献上的生命。

3.不贪生怕死（V25-26）

喇哈以死就死，将生命赌上的信心，救了以色列的探子被称为义，被记载在圣经中让后人效法。

古往今来许多的宣教士，为了主的福音，愿意摆上生命都在所不辞。所以我们如果说我们爱主，不单要有行动，更要在信仰上持有不贪生怕死的信心，以致我们不会因惧怕或面对逼迫时就否认基督而离弃神。

总结：

主耶稣救赎我们，赐我们信心回应祂的爱。不要让这信心只停留在，信耶稣得永生。信心是与我们的行为并行，而且信心因着行为才得以成全。所以，我们要按真理落实基督信仰以爱为本的信心来，好叫我们的信心和行为是能走动在人群中，让人感受到我们的真诚，叫他们的心能被神的爱触摸和夺着。让我们一起以信活出真实信仰！

James 2: Living Our True Belief By Faith
GK611 Morning Devotion
02/03/2022
Speaker: Ps Deborah Tan + Rev David Tan

Introduction: The Ostrich Mindset

1. Living Faith to Let Love Move Around (v1-13)

Faith is very important in our belief because the God we believe in is invisible to the naked eye. Since faith is not a solid object that can be seen or touched, it must be demonstrated through actions or deeds in order to be truly appreciated. To live out the faith and truth of Christianity, it is necessary to:

(1) Not follow the world according to outward appearance (v1-4)

All are equal before the Lord. There is only a difference between believers and non-believers. Therefore, we should not treat people according to their appearance, nor should we compare ourselves with others, and then fall into inferiority, or even become dissatisfied with the environment God has given us. Moreover, when we judge people according to their appearance, we are judging them according to worldly standards, which means we are tainted with worldliness.

(2) The truth about poverty and abundance (v5-7)

When we do not honor the poor who fear God, but flatter the rich who oppress us, not believing and blaspheme God, it is a sign of lack of faith and lack of knowledge of God. Because we do not understand the true meaning of riches and that it is God who makes people rich.

(3) Live out truth and love (v8-13)

The general outline of the law is love. If our faith does not make people feel love, in fact our faith is false and meaningless. True faith is not lived out according to the values and self-interest of the world. Therefore, we must avoid bringing these worldly ways of functioning and standards into the church and Christianity, and live a life of holiness.

2. True Faith Will Lead to Action (v14-26)

To live by faith to love God and love people, Christians will:

(1) Not stand idly by (v14-20)

When one sees a naked person and lacks daily bread, and only tells him to go back in peace and not lend a hand, this kind of faith without works is actually dead. Such faith is the same as the faith of the devil. For the devil believes in Jesus as the Son of God and His is Savior for mankind, but will never lead people to believe in the Lord. It is also an act of standing idly by or shirking responsibility.

(2) Offer up without reservation (v21-24)

Abraham waited from 25 years for Isaac to be born and raised until he was 30 years old, God suddenly asked him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. It was like cutting out the most beloved piece of flesh from his heart. But Abraham offered it without reservation, so he was living out the faith God gave him, and God called him a friend! Do you desire God to call you His friend? Live a life of unreserved devotion to the Lord by faith.

(3) Do not be greedy for life and afraid of death (v25-26)

The faith of Rahab, who put her life on the line to die, saved the spies of Israel and was called righteousness, and is recorded in the Bible for future generations to emulate.

Many missionaries through the ages have been willing to lay down their lives for the gospel of the Lord. Therefore, if we say that we love the Lord, we must not only act, but we must also have a faith that is not greedy for life and afraid of death, so that we will not deny Christ and forsake God out of fear in the face of persecution.

Conclusion:

The Lord Jesus redeems us and gives us faith to respond to His love. Do not let this faith stop at believing in Jesus and receive eternal life. Faith goes hand in hand with our action, and it is through action that faith is made perfect. Therefore, let us implement the love-based faith of the Christianity according to the truth, so that our faith and action can walk among people and let them feel our sincerity, so that their hearts can be touched and capture by the love of God.
Let us live out our true belief together by faith!