124. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, faith is an action word, faith cannot be dead.

10 March 2021
3 John 1
3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.
8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

Jude 1
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt.


Days ago, I booked with Lalamove for the transport of a counter table from my daughter's place in Taguig to our place in Diliman. I arranged for an MPV specifying 1 assistant or helper.

When the driver arrived at our place, he called me by cell phone and I gave him directions going to our house unit (going through 2 flights of stairs) from the roadside. I mentioned I am senior and as much as possible I don't go out since my wife has hypertension and is high risk for covid. Earlier, the driver informed me his helper is his wife.

When they arrived at the front door, he asked if it's okay for him to rest on the stairs. Then he told me he has one artificial lower leg, as a result of being diabetic which he attributed to softdrinks. He shared he has to earn to pay off for the MPV; he used to drive for expats. I can't help giving him encouragement, I told him the Lord will bless him and his wife "dahil marangal ang kanilang paghahanapbuhay." (Later, I saw his consistent 5-star rating in Lalamove; I also gave him 5-star and commended his diligence.)


I gave him tip and some bread.

I am sharing this blog with him by sending the link via text message.


Verse 21 of James 1 reads (verses 20 and 22 are above):
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt, that is verse 22.

Faith without deeds is dead.

Faith is an action word.

The faith of Apostle Paul. The faith worth emulating.

1 Corinthians 11 NKJV
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

The faith of Apostle Paul, the faith born of affliction. The faith that is a gift from God.


Faith is a gift, by God's grace.

Ephesians 2
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

No one can boast that he is saved through his own good works.

Faith is a gift by God's grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Life by the Spirit
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control.

Our deeds, our good works are not for goodness sake, they are fruit of the Holy Spirit in us through faith in Jesus Christ.

Christian faith is the "thinking man's religion." (Wesley So, Christianity Today)

Christian faith, faith manifesting in good deeds, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, faith that is worth sharing to others, through the power of the Holy Spirit.


Sharing here my prayer, part of my reflection 29 October 2017.

"Lord, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If I say to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but do nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:26, 15-17). Lord, You have been so kind to me through the help of people You sent to me, with gratitude, I shall help other people in Your name. "To him who is able to keep me from stumbling and to present me before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen" (Jude 1:24-25). "

Faith. We cannot keep it to ourselves.

Wala ka sa Lolo ko; for him, faith is an action word, faith cannot be dead, this my children's children will utter someday.

May you be blessed with God's Word. Amen.

Maraming salamat.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

102. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. The Lord has given him a crown.

119. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, there is no righteousness apart from God in Jesus Christ.

226. We will be blessed: The Lord washed our feet, we should wash one another's feet.