Foolish or Friend?

S - James 2:20-23 (NIV): " You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. "

O - The mistake of thinking that the Gospel is primarily information rather than a person leads to the foolishness described here where faith is thought to be a theological conclusion about God rather than a personal, ongoing response to him.  It becomes primarily cerebral rather than relational engaging only a compartment of one's mind rather than the totality of one's life. The work of believing will always involve a faith which inspires and requires acts of obedience.  The result is more than some conclusions about God. Rather, the result of this work is best described in the very relational designation of friend (φίλος: literally a companion, one who is dear).

A - I can use relational words to describe my theological conclusions but only in my living (actions), i.e. the whole of my life, is a true/real relationship possible. If Jesus only occupies a segment of my world view or a compartment of my mind then what I have is not really a relationship at all but a fantasy … a tragic one which ends in self-deception.  Today I get to live out loud the beauty of a real friendship with God … one where everything is possible because of the One who is the gospel, the friend of sinners and him who has loved me/us first.

P - Lord,

Little and weak on my best day you still want me to be your friend … and this I desperately need and want to be.  So, today … live in me and through me unto loving you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and my neighbor as myself.  Cause your life to come into me and out of me … let me be a refreshing to all around me.  Jesus, I love you back.

Steve