The More Excellent Way
[given to and shared under inspiration of Ha Ruach Kodesh)
(NOTE: This is a devotional from YHWH's Word Of Faith Ministries. To receive the daily devotionals, you may sign up at YHWH's Word Of Faith Ministries website)
Shalom and Ahavah in YHWH,
Jam 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jam 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jam 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Have you ever met a brother or sister who is in need? Maybe they have major outstanding bills and no way to pay them? Maybe they don't have food, clothing, transportation, shelter, or maybe they just need love? Sounds so tiny...just need love. No actually it's a very very near and dear need in the body! The only way to make friends is to be friendly to others.
Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
It's interesting to note that when we are faced with these situations, how fast the enemy tries to do his job in hopes that we would fail to do ours. We suddenly find ourselves musing about the reasons why they are in need. If only they trusted YHWH more, if only they spent wiser, if only they took better care of things etc etc. If we can look at a possible "reason" we don't have to bless, we can walk away without giving anything. Of course we want to sound upright, so we say politely, sorry its so hard on you, keep trusting YHWH, HE is our provider, and He'll meet those needs in His riches through Yahushua. Such is dead faith. It sounds like we are speaking in faith, but it's simply dead words. In what way did we allow YHWH to work through us to be a blessing? When we stand in faith to receive from HIM for ourselves, we also believe that our standing in faith, will provide the thing requested. Love is faith in action!
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath Elohim set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
1Co 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but Elohim hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Ha Moshiach, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28 And Elohim hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
What is this more excellent way? Go on and read Chapter 13, its LOVE! I encourage you, the next time you see a brother or sister in need, don't give them dead faith, give them of your heart and hands and meet their needs the best you can. Truly YHWH will reward such love! Some of you do this without knowing the passage, others know and exceed this love I know!! Some of you are in need, please share those needs that we might fulfil the law? Each of us desire to walk in the way of excellency, and to fulfill this, we need to know the needs of the body. Praise YHWH for His constant lavishing of love on us!
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.