Devotion: James 2:24

James 2:24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

If someone were to describe you to a stranger, what would they notice about your life? Not the physical attributes or appearance, but rather the “who” of you. Who are you? Would they say Christian? Or is your life saying something your mind isn’t aligned with?

The first thing that came to mind after reading this verse was, “Actions speak louder than words.” Though that is not entirely descriptive of this verse, it sums it up semi-decently. It is our actions, our obedience, that speaks volumes about us rather than just the fact that we are a Christian.

James speaks of people being considered righteous by their obedience. We often hear the word righteous or righteousness, but do we really understand what it means to be righteous? In the Bible we see that righteousness is being in right-standing with God. We align our lives with His standards, His will, and we strive to live a life that is different from the world. Being righteous is about reflecting God’s character. And much of what we see in the Bible about living sets a standard humans can’t meet alone but can achieve through the Spirit within us.

A person is considered righteous by what they DO. Again we see that we are given a choice to act, to do something, and our obedience is what sets us apart. It is through our obedience that we are considered righteous, so we should be grounded in our faith and seek His will for our lives. We have explored that topic extensively this month and we see it again today – we must choose to be obedient to Him if we want to be considered righteous or to receive blessings.

Let’s focus on what we need to do today and be obedient. Think about the choices you make and weigh the options and outcomes before deciding what to do. Pray for discernment and guidance in choosing correctly. The Spirit will guide you as you step out in obedience.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be righteous and dedicated wholly to You. Guide me in making choices that align with Your will. I want my life to reflect You. Amen 

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