Lightning and thunder

Lightning and thunder

Bible:James 2:14-26

Reading

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is
useless? (V.20).

Lightning and thunder are a good illustration of the relationship between faith (what we believe) and what we do. When lightning flashes across the sky, we know that the roar of thunder will follow. Without lightning, there would be no thunder, because one leads to the other. In the same way, doing good, loving things always goes together with faith (full trust) in Jesus, because one leads to the other. We must always remember that we are only saved by God’s love and grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Maybe we know that verse quite well. It’s a good one to memorise. But do we know the verse that comes after? “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do” (EPHESIANS 2:10). In the same way that thunder doesn’t cause lightning, living a good, God centred life adds nothing to our salvation. But that life is the ‘sound’ of faith. If
we truly trust Jesus and have given our lives to Him, it will show. We won’t be able to live in the same way anymore—our lives, actions, thoughts and motives will all be about living for Him! And it is that change in us that helps show we are really His. But ‘faith’

IF WE’VE GIVEN OUR LIVES TO JESUS,
IT’LL SHOW IN HOW WE LIVE.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries