James 2: thoughts... part 4

Continuing the work of memorization... from the study with sisters... thoughts from James continue... thoughts on feelings... and faith...

Read James 2

How often do we expect our feelings... emotions... to match our call to faith?

Watching one struggle with feelings... living by what he wants to do... not by what he needs to do... is painful... yet... I experience the same... at times... when it comes to faith... trusting based on how much I feel...

Memorizing... meditating on James... has increased clarity... faith and feelings... do not always align... even in mountaintop experiences...

Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God's friend.

James 2:21-23

HCSB

Abraham... by faith... climbed a mountain with his son... the son of promise... in order to sacrifice him to God... I can't tell you how many times I have recited this particular passage over the last two months... but recently... I began to see... that Abraham certainly did not feel like taking his son up the mountain to sacrifice him... each step he took... carrying in hand... the knife... the fire... must have been a desperate fight... against feelings...

Our flesh... steeped in selfish sin... fights against God's call to trust... believe... be faith-full...

Don't be deceived, my dearly loved brothers.

Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above...

James 1:16-17

HCSB

God's call to faith... a gift... obedience a blessing...

But each person is tempted when he is drawn away

and enticed by his own evil desires.

James 1:14

HCSB

Our emotions... lie... draw away... and entice...

Faith and feelings... often stir a battle within... they are at odds... I use this truth to determine if a thought is a call from God... if it is way out of my comfort zone... something I would run from naturally... it is most likely something I need to do... something God is calling me to...

Faith is not about feeling good... it is about doing good... obeying Him...

You see that man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

James 2:24

HCSB

Doing what we know to be right... even when we don't feel like it... that's faith...