Kingdom Works

Read: James 2:14-17

Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. James 2:17

IN WORD

Jesus was—and still is—a man of action. He certainly knew His way around a theological discussion, but His teaching was more than theory. He did things. Lots of them. Out in the open. He broke through in this world not with a new philosophy or religion but with a way of life. Divine works flowed through Him.

That’s our model. We have been given a Kingdom of action, not a Kingdom of ideas, theories, and good theology. There’s nothing wrong with seeking understanding, but understanding isn’t enough. Neither is “faith” in the sense of simply believing the right things intellectually. If we are to be royal stewards of the divine will, we will be very active people. That’s the Kingdom culture.

God often bears more fruit through zealous believers who have great faith and sloppy theology than He does through believers with precise doctrine and lots of reasons to be cautious. That’s because the zealous believers with sloppy theology are more open to seeing God work in unconventional ways—His specialty—while the fastidious theologians are intent on defining how God might do things. Adventurers in faith have no desire to limit Him and deep desires to see His works in action.

IN DEED

There is no shortage of people in this world who talk the talk. In the age of social media, when everyone has a platform and plenty of words to fill it with, opinions are flying around everywhere. But God hasn’t conferred on us a Kingdom of opinions. He has given us a Kingdom of power and works. Yes, there are words, but they are not empty ones. They carry weight and accomplish things. Everything about His Kingdom is meaningful and substantial. And those who live in His ways will always be intent on accomplishing His works.

ADDITIONAL READING: Matthew 5:14-16

Do all the good you can by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, in all the places you can, as long as ever you can.

JOHN WESLEY