one step: James 2.6

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

James 2:19-20

What good is it to believe that God is God without it impacting what we do? None of us is immune to the failings of humanity, but when we place faith in God, evidence must exist or else it is not the faith that God requires.* Demons believe in God in a genuine way that causes an action: shuddering.* Believing the truth without obeying the truth is no better than the faith of demons.*

According to James’ illustration using Abraham, and considering the writings of Paul, faith justifies us ultimately, with obedience serving as evidence of that faith.* Eventually, as we exercise faith, that faith grows to the Lord’s goal: completion.* Thus, faith is a dynamic factor in a believer’s life.* It may ebb and flow, but ultimately, God desires that our faith be pointed in an upward trajectory.

God did not intend accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior to exist as two separate events.* To accept Jesus as Savior, we must submit to His Lordship. Faith that He can save us comes only through recognizing His Lordship and responding accordingly. Said another way, we cannot say, “I believe Jesus is my savior, but I do what I want.” This faith is not salvific faith at all.

We do not need to obey the law to acquire salvation; faith in Jesus saves us. Once we receive that salvation, however, obedience to the law becomes an expression of our love to Him.*

As Blomberg states,

Faith that does not reveal itself in works—in a changed lifestyle that glorifies God and seeks his heart for the world—is dead, lifeless, workless, and worthless. In reality, it is not faith at all; it is only the shell or the corpse of faith.

Charles Mitton challenges us by saying,

It is a good thing to possess an accurate theology, but it is unsatisfactory unless that good theology also possesses us.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to ask Him to examine your heart. Perhaps today God wants you to look at the fruit in your life. Maybe today God wants you to invite a friend who is mature in the Lord into that conversation. Perhaps today God would have you submit your life to His Lordship. Maybe today there is an area of your life that God desires you to show Him love by obeying Him in.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 134–141). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 240). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:19–26). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 163–180). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 150–155). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: water break

And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

Matthew 26:37-38

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

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What do we do when life hurts so badly that we feel that we could die? I know that’s a strong sentiment, but I believe that we have all been there, and some of us might share that feeling or one that is close to it right now. This verse in Matthew shows that even Jesus felt that way at least at one time.

The book of Psalms demonstrates an invitation from the Lord for us to be honest with Him about how we feel. For example,

• Psalm 145 is a psalm of praise.

• Psalm 100:1-5 is a psalm of joy.

• Psalm 86:8-15 is a psalm of gratitude.

• Psalm 51 is a psalm of guilt.

• Psalm 5 is a psalm of lament.

• Psalm 109 is a psalm of anger.

Each of these psalms (and many others) invite us to join with the chorus of believers throughout history who have chosen to lay bare their souls before God.

Sometimes, in an effort to be “holy” or religious or “good,” we jump past vital emotions that have pooled in our soul. Maybe we attempt to focus on psalms of praise or joy or gratitude In an effort to force ourselves to jump to forgiveness (or something we believe to be forgiveness). In this, we minimize or ignore our true feelings.

Prior to forgiving the whole world in the most holy and good act of all of human history, Jesus felt and dealt with His feelings with honesty:

• He felt (He “began to be grieved and distressed” - Matthew 26:37)

• He shared His feelings with others (“My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me” - Matthew 26:38)

• He expressed the source of His feelings to God (“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” - Matthew 26:39)

We know from Matthew 26:30 that Jesus sang various Psalms. “Psalms” is the ancient Greek translation from the original Hebrew of the Old Testament.* “Psalms” derives from psalmoi which means “songs.”*

Want to be holy? Want to do something good? Be like Jesus. Sing an honest song to God. Allow yourself to be honest with yourself about your true emotions. Share those emotions with someone very close to you and worth trusting with them. Talk to God about the source of your emotions. Submit to God… He knows best (always and including when people don’t).

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to be honest about how you are feeling. Perhaps God wants you to sing a song to Him that laments, expresses anger, guilt, or thanksgiving. Maybe today He would like to hear you sing a song of praise despite your pain. Perhaps today God wants to meet with you. Perhaps today God wants you to just be you and be with Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Fuller, R. with Fleming David M. (2003). Psalms, Book Of. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 1342). Holman Bible Publishers.

one step: James 2.5

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14-17

This passage is the birthplace of much debate. Unfortunately, some take away from this verse a faith vs. works argument in regard to salvation.*

Here, works refers not to works of the law such as circumcision, but it refers to the works of love, such as caring for those who are in need, not showing favoritism, being humble, or being slow to speak.* While Paul is very clear in his writings that pre-conversion works are not necessary, James emphasizes the necessity of post-conversion works.*

George Guthrie tells us,

The works James requires are not done apart from faith but done in faith, not done instead of faith but done because of faith. Faith is the underlying stance of Christian life; deeds are the way of life; becoming mature and complete is the goal of Christian life. James cannot be charged with opposing deeds to faith, since he does not say, “I will show you deeds instead of faith.” Rather, he contends for a showing of both faith and deeds: I will show you my faith by what I do. He does not object to faith; he objects only to faith not accompanied by action. Simply stated, he wants Christians to have faith that works.

James suggests that faith that does not express authenticating actions is not a true faith at all.* Meaning, those who put their faith in Christ see fruit in their lives that look like good deeds. James rejects a “faith” that is not accompanied by deeds.* James is contrasting an ingenuine faith that consequently produces no action to a genuine faith that results in action to those in need.*

Some have asked, “how do I know if I am saved?” James would tell us that a genuine faith in Christ Jesus (which is solely necessary for salvation) is evidenced by an expression of that faith that does something for others.

If we say that we believe in Jesus, our lives should begin to look more and more like His: serving others through compassion.

The foundation of Jewish piety included providing the necessities of life to the poor (Isaiah 58:7).* Furthermore, the wicked cause the poor to go around naked and take their food (Job 24:10).* Therefore, while those who claim to have faith but do nothing lack true faith, those who claim to have faith but bring harm to those in need or in positions of weakness not only lack faith but are wicked.

None of us is perfect, all of us are in process; even faith as small as a mustard seed can do something for the Kingdom of God.

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. - Jesus (Matthew 7:17-18)

…For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. - Jesus (Matthew 17:20b)

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to recognize the call to do something out of faith. Perhaps today God is asking you to step out and to serve others as He has been whispering to you. Maybe today God wants you to look at the fruit in your life.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 129–132). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 239). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:14–17). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 155–160). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 147–150). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: water break

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

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My heart breaks for all of those impacted by the events involving Pastor Robert Morris that have transpired and have been revealed in these past several days. My heart breaks because the pain, confusion, disbelief, etc. that you hold may be greater than your ability to communicate. As 1 Corinthians 2:11 affirms, only you know what is happening inside of you. I'm so sorry.

The second half of this verse echoes the reality that we sometimes think and feel in times such as this: God, what are you doing? 

1 Corinthians 2:11 reminds us that none of us comprehend the thoughts of God except for the Spirit of God. This, at least initially, leaves us guessing as to what God may be doing during the storms of life.

Fortunately, we can ask the Holy Spirit what God is doing, and in His timing, He will show us (John 16:13).*

These truths may provide some marginal comfort, but the reality is that for a lot of us, the shaking feels surreal and total. Why do we feel shaken in times such as this? 

Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal in their work Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership explain that culture is revealed and communicated through its symbols.* These symbols include myth, vision, and values (providing deep purpose and resolve); the words and deeds of heroes and heroines (serve as icons or logos for others to admire or emulate); fairy tales and stories (give explanations, reconcile contradictions, and resolve dilemmas); rituals and ceremonies (offer direction, faith, and hope); and metaphor, humor, and play (relax the environment and form communal bonds).* These are the makings of a culture.

In times like this, vision fades, values are questioned, the words of heroes are second-guessed, the meanings of stories are questioned, ceremonies are interrupted, and humor and play all but evaporate but for the nervous laugh used to desperately break tension... culture is adrift. This is why we feel so shaken.

In times like this, our culture, no matter what culture we speak of, as believers, must grab hold of the anchor of our soul: Christ (Hebrews 6:19). As Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 2:11, the importance of intimacy with God in times such as this cannot be overstated. We must remember that His Spirit is inside of us, sharing the thoughts of God with us, and sharing them as we need to know them.* It is the Holy Spirit of God that bridges the impossible gap between our thoughts and His.*

Grabbing hold of Him during times like this does not always feel easy to do, and we need friends to help us.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to reach out to a friend for prayer. Perhaps today God wants you to turn to Him as the anchor of your soul. Maybe today God would like to minister to you as you take time to sit in His presence. Perhaps today God wants you to remember that the Holy Spirit is a helper to bring you close to Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal, Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership (Hoboken: Jossey-Bass, 2017), 242.
Garland, D. E. (2003). 1 Corinthians (pp. 98–99). Baker Academic.
Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to the Corinthians (pp. 130–131). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Blomberg, C. (1994). 1 Corinthians (p. 67). Zondervan Publishing House.
Gardner, P. (2018). 1 Corinthians (C. E. Arnold, Ed.; p. 144). Zondervan.
Verbrugge, V. D. (2008). 1 Corinthians. In T. Longman III &. Garland, David E. (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans–Galatians (Revised Edition) (Vol. 11, pp. 278–279). Zondervan.

one step: James 2.4

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:13

James just established that showing favoritism to others is a judgement (James 2:4).* In the Roman world of James’ time, favoritism was a social play to hold honor and power within society.* With 90% of society categorized as poor, it was common for the other 8% who were rich and 2% who were scaling the impossible mountain of social status to neglect the poor all together.* Favoritism could look like both 1) active implementation of efforts and finances to secure relationships and status as well as 2) a passive neglect of those of lesser means.*

James calls the church of Rome to live differently, and urges that those who show no mercy to others demonstrate that they have never truly received God’s mercy themselves.* Showing mercy to others and rejecting judgement was a revolutionary ask of the people in the culture of Rome. Roman culture, mirroring others in the ancient world, used a “retribution” formula to justice.* Effectively, their understanding of justice was that people ought to receive exactly what they had done to others.* To ask a person of the church to show mercy would completely fly in the face of the surrounding culture that believed that the poor could stay that way and the rich ought to as well (if they could maintain the right to stay honored and powerful).

Mercy involves a consideration for fellow man.* Mercy is given by God as the foundation of forgiveness.* It has never been merited, but always comes as a gift from God.* To whom do we show mercy to?

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary points our that “in both OT and NT mercy is always extended by the larger to the smaller, the rich to the poor, the strong to the weak, and the Righteous One to the sinner.”* Jesus demonstrates the act of mercy reversed as well in “turning the other cheek,” “walking the second mile,” and “blessing those who curse you.”* Surely, Jesus, the victim in the crucifixion, showed mercy to those guilty of placing Him on the cross in saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).*

God instructs in Zechariah 7:9-10:

Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart

God invites each of us to repent of the sin of judgement as related to showing favoritism. It has no place in the community of God. Mercy should be extended in every direction, winning out over judgement. Many times, in seeing the gap between what is and what should be, we desire to see justice and then forgiveness.

Craig Blomberg and Mariam Kamell share,

A lot of political and religious rhetoric in recent years at home and abroad has insisted that forgiveness of heinous personal and institutional offenses or reconciliation between estranged parties can occur only after justice has been dispensed. But this will never come close to happening in a world as fallen as ours, so the order of events must be reversed. As Miroslav Volf has so powerfully demonstrated, forgiveness and reconciliation can lead to a more just system, particularly when offenders fully own the crimes they have committed and tell the truth in public contexts.*

Douglas Moo notes,

Believers, in themselves, will always deserve God’s judgment: conformity to the “royal law” is never perfect, as it must be (vv. 10–11). But our merciful attitude and actions will count as evidence of the presence of Christ within us. And it is on the basis of this union with the one who perfectly fulfilled the law for us that we can have confidence for vindication at the judgment.

We all want mercy, yet we are all guilty of sinning against the Law Giver. James tells us that if we want mercy, we should give mercy. We must own our faults and sins, tell the truth, and end discrimination as displayed by favoritism. When we engage in this kind of judgement, we invite the judgement of God upon ourselves. When we express mercy, we give evidence that we have received it as a gift from Him.

Who among us needs mercy? Each and every one of us.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to own a sin and confess it publicly. Perhaps today God wants you to show mercy and compassion to someone in need or even to someone who has harmed you. Maybe today God would have you stop showing favoritism based upon social status or honor or power. Perhaps today God would have you remember that mercy wins over judgement when Jesus is involved. Maybe today God wants you to bask in the revelation that the undeserved compassion of God called mercy is yours today. Perhaps today God would have you receive it.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, p. 123-124). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 237). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 2:8-13). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 150-151). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 123). Zondervan Publishing House.
Parker, D. (2003). Mercy. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (pp. 1105–1106). Holman Bible Publishers.
Miroslav Volf, “The Social Meaning of Reconciliation,” Int 54 (2000): 159–172.