Dirty Hands

 Dirty Hands

 

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [f]your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.   - James 2:18-24

 

Faith requires dirty hands. It is not a clean attribute in that it requires labor to use. Faith is not soft or delicate, it is not pristine or a precious collectible that sits on a shelf to be displayed or admired.

 

Faith is messy. It shifts your life in a different direction often, demanding change. It is a spade digging holes in solid earth to plant precious seeds of truth in action. It is a tool that is sharpened over time to be more efficient, more useful.

 

When you have true, honest faith, it will test you. It will lay bare every sin in your heart, every hypocrisy and shortcoming. Faith is scary and exciting, painful and comforting, strong and yet forcing us to see the depth of our weaknesses.

 

Faith will make your hands dirty, but it will keep your heart pure. By Gods power and grace, use it all day every day.

 

It won’t let you down. Neither will the God who gives it to you.