Get Your Hands Dirty

~~~ James 2:14-24, 26 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ Mark 8:34-9:1 ~~~

Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?

Saint James is knocking down the bowling pins
with his strong bowling ball statements.

He does not mince his words.
He was not a bit concerned about whether or not
he was politically correct.
He just laid the facts down on the line.
...faith is useless unless you put it into your actions.
James might even be considered rude.
His style and convictions made people stop and listen.
He got their attention.
No one wants to called an 'ignoramus';
it would be insulting to say the very least.

The life and the spirit of our faith is manifested through our goods works.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me..."

It is not enough to have faith without the action parts;
the action includes taking up our cross.
It is in the taking of our personal cross that we may
 best put our faith into action.
It is how we model our faith;
by the manner in which we carry our cross.
There is no one who has chosen to follow Jesus
 that does not also have their own cross to carry.

We cannot escape the trials of this human existence.

Faith is not a collector's item to be displayed in a glass case.
Faith is digging in the dirt...getting your hands dirty.
Faith is reaching out to others even when we don't feel like it.

Faith...good works...denying self...taking up our cross
all become vital components of following Christ.

We are Blessed to have Jesus to help us carry our cross.
We are not alone; he is with us.
Peace.