14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.’

James 2:14-26 ESV
https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JAS.2.14-26

What do you like about this passage?

Verse 8 “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” The first-century people John was writing to must have been spiritual-minded and no worldly good. John was showing that if you just have faith and neglect people/relationships your faith is dead.

All Israelites for thousands and thousands of years have prayed a Hebrew prayer two to three times a day called שְׁמעַ “Shema”. It comes from Deuteronomy 6:4 and starts “Hear O Israel”, the word hear is Shema. The Hebrew language does not have a word for obey they believe if you act on what was told to you then you heard. Like when your mother asks you to clean your room and you did not, she says “did you not hear me”.

If we are not obeying the commands in the Bible (God’s instructions) we are not hearing. So our faith in His word should move us toward action in obedience, not like the pharisee that showed faith but not actions.

What is difficult about this passage?

I have a servant’s heart and love to serve others but it would be easy for me to get focus on my works, thinking this will get me closer to God. Works will not get us closer to God, obedience will. If we obey His whole word and act on what we hear and read.

What does this passage tell me about God?

God desires for us to be obedient children, and love others as ourselves.

What does the passage tell us about People?

We can get caught up in our own spiritual life that we neglect others and in turn disobey God’s instruction for our lives.

What are you going to do with this passage / your personal revelation?

I need to daily ask God what he desires for today and be obedient to that. I need to Shema to God’s instructions. This will take me to spend more time with Him in the morning so I “HEAR”.