Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Acts 21 - Faith and Works

 

Acts 21 - Faith and Works

Today, two different readings have collided in a significant way. I am reading the book of James with my wife and reading Acts that I am journaling daily about. Today in James, we are in the second half of chapter two, and James is driving home the critical point of faith and works. Check this out:

“You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” - ‭‭James‬ ‭2:20-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

James does not hold any punches. If you have a hard time hearing the raw truth, James is a tough book to read. Straight up facts, and there is no compliment sandwich with James. James understood Radical Candor well before it was packaged up and sold in a great book. 

Reading in Acts and studying the Apostle Paul, he continued to live out his faith with his works and deeds. Here in chapter 21, we are reading about Paul's last days as a free man, by the end of this chapter Paul will be captured by the Roman soldiers and he will be under Roman control for the rest of his life. Does this scare Paul? Does the warning from those around Paul change his direction, does it impact his works or rattle his faith? NO! Like I wrote about yesterday, Paul knew his Epic...he understood his calling, and he lived that call out every day. 

What stands out to me in this chapter again is Paul's unshakeable conviction and commitment to fulfill his Epic. Paul's to-do list was crystal clear, and everything on his list was aligned with his Epic calling. He was not going to be distracted, and he was not going to be pulled off his mission, no matter what. 

“Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭21:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul’s faith was followed by his works. The Apostle Paul modeled perfectly for us what it looks like to follow God's call on our lives. When everything around us seems like it's falling apart, nothing on paper is lining up, all human comprehension for the situation just doesn't make sense, but we know this is what God has called us to. It’s in those moments we can only rely on our faith and let our actions and our works follow our faith. 

Paul pressed on and went to Jerusalem. Yes, this lead Paul to captivity and the end of his worldly freedom. However, we know the rest of the story, and we will get to it in the following chapters. Paul's freedom was in Christ alone, not freedom on this earth. Paul boldly led the way for us, modeling faith and works. May we step into our day to day with these tethered together. 



 
thoughtsTerry Storch