Daily Devotional

80% of drivers say they are above average drivers. Stop for a minute and think about that. It’s statistically impossible for 80% of people to be above average at something. Even though 94% of people support a ban on texting while driving, somewhere between 80-90% of drivers say they use their cell phones while driving. Sure enough, 25% of all car accidents are caused by people texting while driving. Safe to say, I don’t think 80% of drivers are above average.

73% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. I don’t need to list several statistics to make the point that I don’t think 73% of Americans live as Jesus says.

One of the things that I believe James is making clear in his letter is the importance of having a working faith in Jesus. A working faith needs to be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus in every area, both in word and deed. What we do matters, and what we say matters. It’s easy for us to say that we’re submitted to Jesus in the “big” areas and then let the “little” things slide. It’s often the sins we commit that we consider to be the “little” ones while the ones others do seem much more perilous.

Warren Wiersbe says, “We only believe as much of the Bible as we practice.” Our actions are affected by our beliefs. Notice in this verse that it’s not just actions that James is concerned with, he clearly says it’s words too. “So speak and so act…” What we do matters and what we say matters. Once again, ALL areas of our life need to be under submission to Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:16 says, “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom for a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” We are free from the law but free TO live a certain way. We are under Jesus’ authority and so we need to live like it. We need to live like we believe what we say.

I believe the point of all this is to get us to see that what we do and say matters. How we live matters. Yes, we are free from eternal judgment and can live lives of freedom in Jesus but living for Jesus should look different than living for the world.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.