Daily Reading: 27 November

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

Faith requires work

Something to read

But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren?

- James 2:18-20.

Something to think about

Even the demons believe, we are told. But belief is not enough.

Just as we might consider what we have faith in, we might also ask what faith is. Because it would appear that belief in correct doctrine – belief with our heads – is not enough. Faith, it would appear, is something different.

Faith requires works; it requires us to engage more than just our heads. Faith requires us to love, and to live in relationship. Faith without works is barren; it is our works that will truly reveal our faith.

As the world becomes smaller, living in relationship does not become any easier. We are called to live in relationship with people we do not know and will never meet.

We might reflect on how these words impact on our prayer life. When prayer seems to be the only offering we can make to the suffering of the world, is there some way that we can creatively undergird our prayers with action?

Something to do

Watch our Christmas Carol 'When out of poverty is born'.

Something to pray

Gracious God, may our faith be alive, may our prayer be real and may our lives mirror your perfect love and relationship, in whose image we are made.

Today's contributor is Reverend Kate Tuckett, former Church Resources Manager for Christian Aid, now the vicar of St Alban North Harrow, Diocese of London at the time of writing.