"Living Faith" -2

Just in case you were unaware, James was the half-brother of Jesus Christ; raised with Him as a child, they most likely played together and no doubt shared many of the same interest growing up together. It might be hard to imagine Jesus playing as a child; thinking instead that He spent His childhood in constant prayer to His Father in heaven, as His other siblings played and did the things that children do. Yet, I can only imagine that He too was part in their games as they played. As James was writing his letter to his Jewish brethren, which just so happens to be the most Jewish book of the New Testament, I can only imagine him thinking back to his childhood, growing up with the One who he is now speaking of as Lord. Most likely Jesus was different, seeing that He was without sin; sharing things with His brothers and sisters, and not being selfish towards them, as older brothers usually might tend to be. For James to be so focused on the actions of what faith should look like, he must have been accustom to seeing it in action. The only real account that we have of Jesus as a child, was when He was found by His mother when He was twelve years old, sharing Scriptures with those that taught the word of God. After He had been separated from her for over three days, she was quite upset, saying, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." To which Jesus responded, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:41-49) Anyway; back to the thief on the cross and what it was that brought his faith to life. It was the thought of something greater than this life; something which mattered more than life itself, and that was what was to happen after his death. Abraham was also a man who was focused on this same principle; looking forward to a home that was not made with human hands, but made by God. It is this longing for that place, which is where we are to be, that keeps us hoping; and the hope that we have within us is what brings life to our faith. We live, and then we die; but looking beyond this life that we see here upon this earth is the spark that keeps us going to the end. Some people might scoff at such wishful thinking, supposing that we are vexed by a fable, or just reaching for a reason to believe that there is more to this life. But those of us that believe in Jesus, having tasted what putting our faith in Him creates in us, know, that faith in Him must be lived out, in one way or another. Much the same as Jesus, being but a child, knew His calling; knowing also that His mother knew, and thus, could question her concern for what He was doing. Works are things which we do that produce action to the things which we believe; the performance of the business of Him who is our Master. They are the natural response to what lives inside of us; much the same as the response generated in 'the thief on the cross' to his fellow malefactor...