Faith And Deeds Ginger

OK…FAITH AND DEEDS…TESTED TO THE LIMIT! 

COULD YOU AND I DO THAT?

FAITH THAT IS REAL…WILL HAVE ACTIONS TO PROVE IT.

FAITH IS NOT JUST COMPASSION…BUT WE DO NOTHING TO HELP THEM = WHEN WE COULD.  WHAT GOOD IS OUR FAITH?

Local man Charles Roberts killed himself after his shooting spree.

The Amish have said they forgive him and have helped set up a fund for the Roberts family at a local bank.

Charles Roberts burst into the West Nickel Mines Amish School, killing five girls aged between seven and 13, and injuring another five before turning the gun on himself as police closed in.

THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED, ONE-TIME OCCURANCE.

WHEN THERE IS A TRAGEDY – WHETHER IN THEIR CLOSE COMMUNITY OR OUTSIDE THEIR COMMUNITY … THE AMISH ARE KNOWN FOR ALWAYS, ALWAYS REACHING OUT TO ANYONE…

THEIR FAITH AND ACTIONS ARE LIKE SIAMESE TWINS… TWO HEART BEATING AS ONE. 

GO I WISH YOU WELL, KEEP WARM AND WELL FED…

BUT…TALK IS CHEAP…IF THERE IS NO ACTION.  COMPASSION IS SIMPLY A BLEEDING HEART, IF IT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED WITH ACTION.

OUR SALVATION SHOULD DRIVE US TO WANT TO ACT LIKE CHRISTIANS.

WE SHOULD TAKE ON THE VERY NATURE OF GOD…OF CHRIST.

WE SHOULD WANT TO HELP OTHERS

WE SHOULD WANT TO SERVE GOD

PROBLEM:  WE SAY WE DON’T HAVE TIME….

THAT IS THE BIG ISSUE…THE BIGGEST REASON PEOPLE DON’T HAVE ACTIONS

TIME: 

SOME PEOPLE HAVE IT…

OTHER MAKE IT

…SOME USE IT WELL

SOME PROTECT IT

SOME SAVE IT

SOME WASTE IT

SOME KILL IT

AND A FEW ARE ACTUALLY ON IT.

HOW YOU SPEND IT…

DETERMINES YOUR SATISFACTION IN LIFE…AND IT ACTUALLY DETERMINES YOUR ETERNAL FUTURE.

HOW MANY OF US USE OUR TIME TO SERVE THE LORD?

SO MANY USE THEIR TIME FOR THEMSELVES

MANY USE THEIR RESOURCES FOR THEMSELVES

USE THEIR GIFTS FOR THEMSELVES

BUT MOST OF US HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY GOD…WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS…AND WE DON’T USE THEM TO BLESS HIS KINGDOM OR FOR ONE ANOTHER.

WE ALWAYS THINK WE WILL

TOMORROW I WON’T BE SO BUSY

I WILL HELP OUT IN THIS…I WILL DO THIS…I WILL SERVE HERE – OR THERE.

BUT SOMEDAY…TOMORROW NEVER COMES.

LISTEN:

JAMES IS REMINDING US THAT IF FAITH DOESN’T CHANGE THE HEART OF THE INDIVIDUAL, IT IS MEANINGLESS.  IT MEANS NOTHING.