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by Suzanne Benner
** How can you daily express your faith through love especially in your marriage? http://marriageuncensoredtalk.com/loveandgod/
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6)
Tasks we do, ideas we discuss, thoughts we ponder, events in which we take part are innumerable, but there is only one thing in life that counts, one thing that truly matters.
Faith in God is that key element. But it is not an inactive faith. It is faith that responds with action; faith expressed by love.
As James puts it, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead.” (James 2:17)
Thus, expressive faith is one in which belief in Jesus for salvation is translated into loving actions toward God and all mankind.
What does faith expressed through love look like?
The best description I have found for faith lived out in love is Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats at the end of the age. Listen to His description of those who are His sheep.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:35, 36)
When His followers were confused about when they did these things for Him, the King explains, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Today, let’s express our faith in God by doing these very things for the least and the lonely and the forgotten who surround us.
~God, help me to remember that the only thing that counts is faith expressed by love. Show me today how to put my faith into action.
Questions: What are some simple examples of how we can daily express our faith through love? What prevents us from loving actions? Is it our lack of faith?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/suzanne-benner/
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i do have faith in God,i try to show it in any way i can i help with the childrern at church, we help our neighbor next door who has no family close cooking for her taking he to dr. and other different things such as visting with her just to make sure she is not by herself all day. there are many things we can do that shows our kindness and faith in God
sharon b
I try to express my faith through love by volunteering once a week at a 50’s plus centre. I am in my 5th year at the centre. When one of my friends is sick I send a card and bring a meal to my friends.
I visit with my uncle at the Nursing home near the centre! He has alzheimers disease and cannot see and doesn’t know much. I sing and pray with him. I try to stop and visit with residents near by and on my way out.
Sometmes we think we don’t have time to help someone. It only takes a moment to make a phone call, send a card,and take a meal to someone.
Thanks so much Suzanne for the great devotional. God knows my heart that I help in monetary way for sisters in need. Just yesterday I was called by an organization for $35.00 donation so I do whatever I can. GOd oftentimes reward me by supplying what I needed because I run- out of money for myself.
When I lost my pair of good eyeglasses, I bought a very cheap (Pharmacy eyeglasses-$18.00) for I cannot afford it. There was this friend whom I monetary helped many times in the past. It seemed that her needs are endless and expected me to help her each time till I did not feel good anymore of sending her a check, money that many I have to borrow at the bank because i’m on pension. I let her know that but it seemed that she has a deaf ear to what I’m telling her. She still sends me a manipulating e-mail that i started not to answer her anymore. Now she goes to work and when a topic like this comes for discussion she comes in to say that she has been ignored.
I know that I still send some people money who are really in dire needs because I have faith that GOD supplys my needs but it’s quite hard to deal with a Christian who manipulates a particular person for her needs. I would say let GOD supply our needs thru many people not one poor people as ourself.
Anyway, my conscience is clear. We have a giving church and we also make meals for our sick or give bag full of groceries for our needy members. Our giving goes beyond our community and cities. It reaches USA and the Far East countries. I support a missionary and his family monthly, so at the end of time, may I be counted among the sheeps.
Thanks so much Suzanne for the great devotional. God knows my heart that I help in monetary way for sisters in need. Just yesterday I was called by an organization for $35.00 donation so I do whatever I can. GOd oftentimes reward me by supplying what I needed because I run- out of money for myself.
When I lost my pair of good eyeglasses, I bought a very cheap (Pharmacy eyeglasses-$18.00) for I cannot afford it. There was this friend whom I monetary helped many times in the past. It seemed that her needs are endless and expected me to help her each time till I did not feel good anymore of sending her a check, money that many I have to borrow at the bank because i’m on pension. I let her know that but it seemed that she has a deaf ear to what I’m telling her. She still sends me a manipulating e-mail that i started not to answer her anymore. Now she goes to work and when a topic like this comes for discussion she comes in to say that she has been ignored.
I know that I still send some people money who are really in dire needs because I have faith that GOD supplys my needs but it’s quite hard to deal with a Christian who manipulates a particular person for her needs. I would say let GOD supply our needs thru many people not one poor people as ourself.
Anyway, my conscience is clear. We have a giving church and we also make meals for our sick or give bag full of groceries for our needy members. Our giving goes beyond our community and cities. It reaches USA and the Far East countries. I support a missionary and his family monthly, so at the end of time, may I be counted among the sheeps.
I had similar thoughts as Romel H…I get confused many times with putting conditions on this verse. Yes….clothe & feed the poor but only if they really deserve it. It’s hard to fully comprehend. Something about our human nature gets in the way of serving God whole-heartedly because we do help with conditions much of the time. As long as it’s easy for us than it’s easy to help others but when it does start hurting our finances or our time with our family than it gets more difficult to give unconditionally.
We have a family that we’ve helped too and then we ask ourselves…are we really helping them or are we hurting them because now they are relying on us and not God…or are we God’s way of helping them but how come it doesn’t feel right?
I think that through prayer and daily connection with God and the Holy Spirit’s conviction then we do know how to proceed. I also think just the fact that we are thinking about this scripture and looking for opportunities to help the least of these that we are being obedient to God. It’s when we are so wrapped up in our own lives that we aren’t even seeing the needs around us then we are blinded and not following God. There are needs everywhere and God doesn’t call us to save the whole world by ourselves…he places a few people here and there in our lives….are we watching for these opportunities with eyes of faith??
Thanks for today’s devotional. I think it is a very good
thing to be put in rememberance of what the will of God is
for our lives. I believe if we purpose in our heart to be
open to opportunties that expresses our faith through love,
and act on these opportunties daily. There are a number of
simply and even small things that can be done, visiting
a sick one in the hospital or at home. It could be calling
and praying with somebody who is having a difficult time.
I just visit a church member that was in the hospital last
week. A man and his son was in the checkout line, the man
failed short of money to pay for his items. The man asked
his son did he have any money, the son said no. The man
kept researching his pockets trying to find additonal money.
I volunteered to pay what he was short of which was just a
little over a dollar. The man protest and said,” I might
never see you again to repay you, and I said that’s okay,
that was a small thing”. The other day standing in line at
Popeye’s a lady that was very mentally disturbed asked me for a dollar to help get her something to eat. When I gave
it to her she got in line to make an order. Jesus who is
our perfect example, has given us a model to pattern after.
We are to express our faith through love just like Jesus
did when he walk here on earth. I don’t think it’s a lack
of faith Suzanne that sometime prevents us from loving actions. I believe it could be a combination of things,
like being caught up in our own daily routines, and not
being as open to others like we should. It also could be
self centerness, focusing on what concern you and yours.
Then it could be having a need to be reminded, like today’s
devotional is doing, that we as christians are to show
expressions of our faith through love, as often as possible
like everyday. Sometime at fellowship when Iam greeting a
person, Iam led to give them a big hug and a kiss on the
cheek and say God loves you. I believe that that person is
going through something unbeknowing to me but not God and
that these actions was what God knew they needed. I pray
that I will be open daily, wherever I go and whoever I am
around that I will not miss out on any opportunties to ex-
press my faith through love. This same prayer I request for
every lady that take part in the devotional. May God richly
bless everyone, and have a restful day in the Lord.
I would first like to ask Prayer for Chris T. She Just phoned me and asked if I would ask you ladies if you would please pray for her need. Her computer has broken, everything is totally outdated & it is Chris’s life line to the world. She is on Social Assistance so money is short. What she would like prayer for is that the man who is fixing it will take the payment in monthly installments as she cannot afford to pay the bill up front. I think we should also pray that this man be sensitive to Chris’s needs and give her a reduced rate on the work he has to do on her computer. Thank you very much ladies.
Todays Devotional is Wonderful & a Great Reminder for each & everyone of us. I totally agree with each lady ahead of me. I so believe that if we can live by always thinking of “others” Lord let that my motto be. When we feel that impression to phone, visit, send, pray or give do it right away before satan puts doubt in your mind. As we are here to be used of God in acts of love & ministry each and everyday within our own families as well as out there in the world. Have A Wonderful Day! Hugs Linda!!!
linda r
i will be praying for chris tand her needs
sharon b
Thank you, Suzanne, for a devotional which is a great reminder as several other ladies have aleady said. Besides that it, also, speaks to my heart. It is one of my daily prayers . . . to do the will of God, to be obedient to the Holy Spirit, to show the Love of Christ in me each day, and to put on compassion (which means love in action). I am learning in prayer to ask that I be able to hear the Holy SPirit and to be obedient. I desire to be obedient, to do what the Lord has planned for me each day. It has been a process (and will continue to be). I praise Him and thank Him for the work He is doing in my heart and my life, so I may reach out and be faithful to Him by showing Christ’s love to others.
LindaR,
Thanks for the update on Chris. Will be praying that she might receive all she needs to help her with her computer repairs. Also will be praying that this situation is very temporary and that she will be back on line very soon.
Loved the devotion today. Thanks girls for all your comments. It’s so lovely to see how God is working in all your lives as you serve Him and His people. Bless you all, In His love, Donna
Reading Shirley Walker’s comment about hugs and words of love brought back an incident I take no credit for, but often give thanks to God for.
It was at least ten years ago. I was walking past another R.N. at work and appparenlty give her a hug and said. “God loves you’ as I went by. I have no clear recollection of this, but unknown to me she was really struggling at the time. We became close friends and have been there for each other since. God is good!
Father help me to have an obedient heart and listening ears to what the Holy Spirit is saying to me.
Linda R and Sharon B: thank you so much for your birthday greetings on Mar 20! Thank you for your encouragement when I’m down physically. Your emails, your prayers and the sisters’ comments at this blog is so comforting! Thank you all!
This was such a great devotional for me thank you! I am by nature a very caring person and often put people and their needs before my own. As I have recently turned my life back over to God I have been praying for situations where God can use me. I just finished reading a great book “Becoming a vessel God can use” I am a single mom now working and finishing college so sometimes I feel limited in what I can do. I have a willing heart and I have been very helpful in the past to friends and family but felt taken advantage of so I little by little stopped. Now I am praying for the opportunity to be helpful in the areas God wants to use me. I have a hard time though with saying no when asked for help and that is what has drained me of made me feel taken advantage of in the past so I guess I am a little confused in how to handle that. I will continue to pray for ways God wants to use me.