“To be doing good deeds is man’s most glorious task.” Sophocles
FAITH AND DEEDS James 2:14-17 – “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” NIV
If a man goes to church and listens to the reading and teaching of Scripture and thinks that this has made him a Christian, he is “less than half way” there. He hasn’t realized that what is heard must be lived. ...paraphrased from The Letters of James and Peter: Revised Edition, by William Barclay, p. 59.
James 1:22 - “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” NAS
“We are not saved by deeds; we are saved for deeds.” William Barclay
FAITH IN ACTION At a time when Elijah was fearful and discouraged, he experienced a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a fire; but he found the Lord was not in any of those. Following these events, the Lord’s voice came to Elijah in a gentle whisper.... from I Kings 19:12-13
In our daily living, might the gentle whisper of God be in the concern, empathy, or sympathy we feel for others? Might His whisper be in those moments when someone comes to our minds? A visit, a helping hand, a smile, a written note, a meal, a text, a ride, a cookie, a listening ear, a hug can be small deeds guided by the hand of God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to hear and recognize gentle impulses from the Holy Spirit. Guide and motivate me to move these impulses into small deeds where I can be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Anthem Lyrics: Verse 1: I may never be like Noah, and build a mighty ark, but I can light one candle to drive away the dark. Verse 2: I may never be like Moses from Pharaoh’s yoke be freed, but I can lend a helping hand to those who are in need! Verse 3: I may never be like Hannah, and give to God my son, but I can give the gift of love to people, one by one. Chorus: Small deeds, done with great conviction; small deeds, each one wisely planned; Small deeds, touched by truth and beauty; small deeds guided by the hand of God
Hymn spotlight: #441 – What Does the Lord Require of You
The text was written by Albert Frederick Bayly who was born Sept. 6, 1901, on the coast of England in Sussex. This is his best-known hymn and was written in January 1949. The tune mostly associated with Bayly’s hymn is SHARPTHORNE by Erik Routley.
The hymn was based on the text from Micah 6:6-8 and was published in Rejoice, O God (1950) along with 16 other hymns representing prophets from the Old Testament. The text’s shortness and simplicity are by design. In an article “Writing Hymns for Our Times,” Bayly once wrote that “hymns may deal with the most profound ideas, but unless these are expressed in the simplest and clearest possible way they can be nothing but words to many of those who sing them.” from - www.umcdiscipleship.org