What does it profit, my friends, if people say they have faith but do not have works? If someone is destitute of food, and one of you says, “Go in peace, be blessed” but you do not give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is it? Thus faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
(James 2:14-17)

We saw a video that illustrated this point quite well during the sermon this past Sunday.

The prophets Amos and Micah were especially troubled by this sort of empty religion—which professes belief but does not result in action. Amos sharply critiqued the spiritual complacency and apathy of the people of Israel in his day, as many people were just focused on their own enjoyment and were not concerned about the troubles of the world around them. Amos declared that God did not even want the people’s worship if it was not matched by their actions, and he called the people to “let justice roll down like waters.” (Amos 5:28) Micah proclaimed a similar message, calling his people to “act justly, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with their God.” (Micah 6:8)

The prophets call us to have our head (beliefs), our heart (devotion), and our hands (action) all rightly focused upon God.

How might we strengthen our belief and our personal relationship with God, so that we can indeed “walk humbly with our God”?
How might we direct our devotion more purely to God’s purposes – to “love kindness” – in this world that in so many ways would pull our hearts from God?
How might we “act justly,” so that we truly express our faith in deeds, and make an impact in the world?

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Like the prophets, Jesus calls us finally to put our faith into action.

The good news is that even if we have fallen short in this realm, Christ is with us, to forgive us and to empower us afresh. May we open our hearts to His Spirit, so we may truly fulfill the call of the prophets—to “act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.”

Sunday’s Scripture Readings:
Amos 5:11–12, 21–24
Amos 6:4–6
Micah 6:6–8

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About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.