James 2:21-26 (Devotion)

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."

In our final installment of the faith/works discussion, James offers two Old Testament examples of works that provide evidence of faith. He could not have picked more polar opposite characters to reference, but that also should provide great encouragement to us as we reflect upon our own lives.

Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of the Jewish nation and promised that his descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky. He was not a perfect man by any means, but God established a covenant with him that was unprecedented. However, Abraham was tested when God instructed him to sacrifice his only son (whom he was only able to have when God miraculously opened the barren womb of his wife Sarah at age 90) as an offering to the Lord. He was asked to prove his faith by giving up his most treasured possession, his son Isaac, and followed through on the Lord's command until God stopped him from completing the sacrifice and killing his son. Thus, Abraham's works gave testimony to his complete and obedient faith and trust in the Lord.

Similarly, Rahab proved her faith by helping spies of the nation of Israel escape when they were scouting enemies in the promised land. Although she lived her life in sin as a prostitute, she believed in the Lord and submitted to His authority, proving her faith by risking her own life to save those of the spies, and earning her a spot in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

What is most recognizable from the life of Abraham and Rahab is that both were imperfect, sinful people. They deserved the wrath of God for their sin, just as we do, but they chose to believe in the Lord and submit under the authority of His Word, obeying His commands. And their works showed that their faith was not simply a theological belief, but an active application of what they professed.

I wonder if we would respond the same way though. Would we sacrifice our children to prove our faith if the Lord commanded? Would we literally risk our lives to protect our enemies? Bottom-line, would we unashamedly live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and risk persecution and torment if the Lord commanded? Well, He has...and we must wrestle with the application of that question if we are to emulate the righteousness of our Savior and King and live what we believe.