Eight Days of Hope: When Believing Results in Doing

I got sidetracked this morning and ended up with Rahab the harlot. My intention was to read James in The Message paraphrase, then move to my study Bible. A phrase in James 2 caught my attention, though, and I couldn't get past it. 

"that seamless unity of believing and doing"

The phrase was used to describe why Rahab helped the spies. The spies knocked on her door, shared their story with her, and she believed them. 100%. No doubt. Because she believed, she acted. 

It was that simple.

It's supposed to be that simple for us, too. Because we believe, we should act. But do we? 

Let's be clear about something. Scriptural "doing" does not mean clicking on social media posts. The seamless doing that comes from believing involves moving away from our electronic devices and encountering flesh-and-blood humans who are hurting and in need. 

Ponder that for a moment. 

Sometimes our action is as simple as gathering supplies for a homeless care pack. Sometimes that action involves leaving home to go to the other side of the world. Sometimes, our believing carries us to our fellow Americans in desperate need of help.

Hearts are never more open than in times of crisis. People in Texas are still in the midst of the Harvey battle and the recovery will be ongoing for years, as those of us in post-Katrina Mississippi know very well. 

We can help, and we should.

Eight Days of Hope, headquartered in Tupelo, MS is a wonderful organization providing disaster relief and rapid response. They already have boots on the ground in Houston and they could use our help. Follow the link to their website. You can learn more and sign up to help. Not everyone has to hammer and paint. Some people are needed to help in the kitchen, as well. 

I've volunteered with them before, and it was an amazing experience. These men and women love God and love their neighbor, exactly as Jesus said. They live out "the seamless unity of believing and doing" on a daily basis.

Let's let our belief spur us into action, too. Take a few days away from your "usual" life and help out. If you can't go, give. 

We can make a difference in the life of someone in crisis, but only if we allow our belief to blossom into action. 

Here's a hard question that we all must answer: What work are we doing that gives evidence of our faith? 

"Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?" James 2:24 The Message 

"You can see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone." James 2:24 nasb

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*photo above (courtesy of Diane Coleman Becroft) is of 8DOH volunteers in Houston this week.

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: When You Give Up Techniques to Pray Powerful Prayers

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If you feel led to partner with this ministry (US, Middle East, the digital world), here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841 

Or you can mail your check or money order to: Global Outreach/ PO Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802. Be sure to put Account 4841 in the "for" line.
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