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14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17.

I recently reread this passage of James. Reading these words takes me to task and makes me sweat reminding me of a responsibility to perform acts of faith each day. Being an independent, and sometimes ordered personality, I want to clearly plan, execute, and evaluate the aspects of everything including acts of faith. I pause with the recognition that I’m not setting or driving this schedule… God is! Our acts of faith are not something we can always plan and conjure up for inclusion in our daily schedule but acts directed by the Beloved Son of God. When we open our heart in prayer, the essential acts become apparent as He directs. It begins with a humble attitude seeking the wisdom and direction of the Great Advocate who molds and guides our journey given our faith and trust. It is by faith that we are redeemed discovering that the abundant life is found in trusting and following a loving God.

For we are God’s handwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.

God created us with the heart, ability, gifts, and resources to do good works in His name. We are asked to trust the Lord and faithfully follow. Billy Graham often said in his revival sermons, “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”1 We are always in the care and grace of the Father. Planned acts of faith and ministry to our church, our family, or our neighbors are important but again we are directed by our Lord. Our prayer life will reveal God’s plan and objectives for us. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.2

 Max Lucado writes of a couple celebrating an eleventh wedding anniversary in Jamaica in the fall of 2001. Trent and Tammy Lenderink enjoyed a festive week’s salute to a happy marriage. On the last day before returning Trent went out to the blue lagoon near their resort for a brief dive to snorkel a reef. Tammy waiting on the shoreline with lunch, watched as he surfaced and dived. Caught in the moment of the scenic beach, she realized that Trent had not surfaced for several minutes which turned into an eternity of desperation, worry, and fear. As authorities arrived the search proved fruitless and extended into the next morning when they found Trent’s body submerged in the lagoon.

Tammy, swept by grief for the loss of Trent retreated to the hotel room to begin the difficult task of calling parents and informing family as the TV in the room flashed with the early reports of the attacks on the twin towers and what we know today as the horrific events of September 11, 2001. With all flights cancelled Tammy could not seek the comfort of family and was alone in a foreign country dealing with the death of her husband. Tammy sobbed uncontrollably dissolving into the awareness of being alone, abandoned, and heart broken.

A few minutes later she heard a knock at the door and anticipating another report from the authorities responded attempting her best to suppress her grief and uncontrollable weeping. It was the housekeeper, an older Jamaican lady who had overheard her. She said, “I couldn’t help but to hear you crying, and I was trying to get to you. Could I just come in and hold you and pray with you?”3

 Jesus sent a loving and faithful Christian to comfort Tammy. I’m reminded that responding to God’s quiet whisper is never convenient. We are the children of a loving God that calls us to do good works. We are called not when it works in our schedule but when God needs us. Trust the Lord and faithfully follow.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

 Our faith is built on Christian attributes cultivated and matured by the invited presence of the Holy Spirit. We seek humility and a keen respect for all. We practice the difficult task of real forgiveness. We invest in people employing understanding, compassion, patience, restraint and encouragement. We pray and listen for the voice of our Lord Jesus.

 Prayer: Dear Lord and Creator we seek Your wisdom and guidance. Open our hearts to continued prayer and the willingness to listen for Your voice. Help us push aside our preoccupations and teach us to invest in the people around us. We make this prayer for those who do not know how to pray. Love them good in their hearts and let them know we love them too in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

1 https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-10-quotes-from-billy-graham-on-worry-and-anxiety/.

2 Matthew 7.7.

3 Max Lucado, Stories for Your Soul: Ordinary People. Extraordinary God. Published by Thomas Nelson 2024, Pages 61-63.

The Wesleyan Bridge is written by K.B. Kelly with the Reverend Valerie Mireb and Pastor Hank Brooks as Theological Editors and Debbie Kelly as Text and Content Editor