Don't Be a "Shudderer"

Daily Reading: James 2

Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2.19)

Devotional Thought: James 2.19 is one of my favorite passages: "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder" (NIV).  I consider it a warning to myself, to non-believers, to people who think they are believers but aren’t really, and to those who are truly believers.  But what is it doing in the middle of James' writings on faith and deeds?

Even the demons believe in God, and shudder.  Hello!  Demons are enemies of God.  Though they believe in God, they fight against him.  (Don't get too obsessed with the demons' inconsistency.  Ever looked into the mirror and then forgotten what you looked like? James 1.22-25).  Evil spirits obey Jesus (Matthew 8).  Even Satan recognizes and obeys God (Job 1).  They are doomed to destruction, yet they continue to sin against God.  Knowing their fate, they persist in sin. 

But thanks be to God, I also know my fate.  Because of his mercy, I am assured of eternity.  Because he has given me faith, I don’t need to shudder.  If you are happy and you know it (clap your hands), then let your face know it and show it.  If you have faith and you know it, let your life show it.  Do the deeds.  In fact, James postulates that if you have faith, your life can’t help but show it. 

If you love God, you will obey his commands (1 John 5.3).  You will do deeds.  Good deeds, not evil deeds.  Believing without doing is what demons do.  They believe in one God, and shudder!  Don’t be a “shudderer.”    Have a faith that is accompanied by deeds for God.

John Wade

Prayer: Lord, my prayer is like the father's prayer in Mark 9: "I believe.  Help my unbelief."  Help my belief to be accompanied by actions, by deeds of love, acts of mercy, and works of compassion.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 50.1-6

1  The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.

3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.

4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:

5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice! ”

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah