What About Our Part?
James 2:19-21 (Amplified Bible)
19You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!
20Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?
21Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac?
As I was on my way to take my dad to dialysis this morning I turned on the radio and Steve Harvey was giving parts of his testimony, He said so many profound things, but one thing that stuck out to me was the fact that he actually knew the Word of God. But the an even more astounding things beyond that was that he reminded God of His Word, and on top of that he began to claim God as his own, not just privately but publically. But if that was not enough, he took responsibility and said he had to come to the realization that he need to submit his whole life to God and to live the Word and live for him. What an amazing process. When I hear stories of revelation, and salvation I truly know that God is still working miracles daily!
But what is our part? God has laid out His plan in the His Word and according to Jeremiah 29:11, He says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has specific things in mind for us, but we have a responsibility to. We have to do the work. Transforming our lives is not only God’s responsibility; we have to do the work that aids in that process. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. We have to do things differently…If we are not submitting ourselves to the will of God, acknowledging God, openly and learning His will for our lives by His Word and time with Him, we are not doing the work. It is just like a person that instantly becomes rich, but they were poor their whole lives, if they do not do the work to change their mind set, how they handle money and learn about investments and retirement funds, chances are they will again be impoverished because they have not done the work to change some of the most important elements, that will sustain their new found acquisition.
We have a bad habit of wanting everything done for us. Nothing in life comes without some work, or input. Nothing in life is free. I have heard people say well salvation is free. No it was not, it cost Jesus His life, His blood and His time and when we receive salvation and really aspire to live a saved life, it cost us our lives, our time and our talents as well. We have to recognize that nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing comes without a price and without work (blood, sweat and tears), not a good relationship with Christ, not the promises of God, not a good marriage, a good work situation, a good, relationship with our children, a good church situation, nothing. We have a responsibility to roll up our sleeves and get busy. To get on the wall, to seek the face of Jesus, to run the course that God ordains for us, to help make disciples of others, to believe even when no one else does, to forgive when no one else wants to. We have to choose to do our part, to make the situation whole. God is faithful to do His part, but the question we need to ask is, are we doing ours?
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