Faith by Itself is Useless

Recently, a good friend of mine, who happens to be a non-Christian, brought up some recent political news topics (Google it yourself, I'm not here to debate or discuss recent legislation or comments surrounding it) centering around things that were said by professing Christians, and she pointed out how out of whack the comments where with who Jesus was [is],

This brought to my mind and heart a subject that I believe to be of paramount importance: Accountability for me as a Christian.

I never want my belief in Jesus to be questioned because of the way I treat others.  I want to live a life like Jesus.  He reached out to others. He loved everyone.  He admonished those who set themselves above standard...  In three small, but meaningful words - Jesus was love.

I know I will never be able to completely live up to Jesus' standard, but I have to try.  What good would it do me to call myself a disciple, and yet not strive to live up to Jesus' legacy?

 James 2:6-18  says that belief in Jesus [faith] by itself is useless.  It says we must show faith in our lives or that faith is dead.  No one will benefit from a faith that is dead.  We have to breathe life into our faith by reaching outward, and living a life of love, compassion, mercy and grace, just as Jesus did.

Anything less is a farce.

~John 13:34-35New Living Translation (NLT)
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

How to Live Make Others Feel Special

There are days, maybe weeks and months at a time where I am so caught up in my own [stuff] that I move through life as if I am the center of the universe (complete self-absorption).  I do things for others; I love others; I pray for others, but I don't think about my impact on others as I should.

Sometimes people need to HEAR that they are the easiest person for me to talk to.  Or that they make me smile ever time I think about them. Or that they did a great job. Or perhaps they just need to hear that they are special, in whatever way, just because.

We are all special unique, wondrous, fantastic individuals and we need to tell each other that,  often.

In my younger years it was really hard for me to compliment someone.  It felt like I was giving the other person a piece of my soul.  Sounds hyperbolic, I suppose, but that is how it felt - like it was taking something away from me if I acknowledged a talent, trait, characteristic, or achievement I admired in someone else.

Chalk it up to immaturity, or low self esteem on my part, but being an encourager was something I had to grow into. Something I had to force myself to do until it became comfortable.

I tell you what, the more I acknowledged or encouraged someone else, the easier it was.  Then I realized that giving accolades away, in no way took away from my own [self], but more so confirmed that we all need each other in this world.  We need to be needed and we need to acknowledge the gifts of those around us.

In the end, we are all in this thing called life together.  We are interdependent. All part of a thing greater than ourselves.  When we recognize that fact, it comforts our souls in a way that eludes words. It invokes in us a feeling of oneness - among humanity, all around the world, regardless of race, religion, sex, etc.  We were made to harmonize one to another as a gift to our fellow life-travelers.

~1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 New Life Version (NLV)
He died for us so that, dead or alive, we will be with Him. So comfort each other and make each other strong as you are already doing.