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A Journey Through James Chapter 2

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The other night, there I was, up way too late, trying to get some writing done, when that familiar craving for something sweet hit me. You know the kind—when you open the pantry door, just hoping for a little something to jump out at you and quiet that craving you’ve been desperately trying to ignore. And then I saw it—a blue bag of chocolate chip cookies, the perfect fix for a sweet tooth. I grabbed the bag, fully expecting a moment of sweet bliss, only to find… nothing. The bag was trash. My son had finished them off, leaving nothing but an empty bag of disappointment in his wake.

In a more meaningful way, this reminds me of what happened to Jesus in Mark chapter 11:

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.” (Mark 11:12-13, NIV)

According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, “fruit always appears before the leaves.” And so, when Jesus saw the leaves from a distance, He naturally expected to also find fruit. That wasn’t the case, however, as the Bible tells us that when He approached the tree, He found nothing but leaves. In other words, it had the appearance of fruitfulness, but no substance to back it up.

Like so many Christians today, the tree appeared one way, but was living another. We can go through the motions, look the part, and even sound like we have it all together on the outside. But when God draws near, is He going to find the evidence of true faith in our lives? Or, like that empty blue bag, are we all appearance with nothing inside?

James writes, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26, NIV). Some might wonder, Is James contradicting the scriptures that say we are saved by faith and not by works? It’s important to note that he’s not contradicting Paul’s words here; he’s reinforcing them.

John Piper points out a crucial text in seeing Paul and James in harmony with each other, which is found in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.” He goes on to add, “What counts with God? ‘Faith.’ But what kind of faith? Faith that ‘works through love.’”
(https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/does-james-contradict-paul)

James is talking about a heart that’s so connected to God in this chapter, so rooted in Him, that our actions naturally overflow from that place. It’s the kind of faith that leads us to reach out to a neighbor in need, to forgive even when it’s hard, or to keep showing up when life feels overwhelming. It’s trusting that God is using every small act of obedience to bear fruit that matters for eternity.

It’s easy to get caught up in the outward signs of faith—attending church, posting a Scripture verse online, wearing a cross necklace—but real faith shows up in the way that we live. Are we showing love to the people God has placed in our lives? Are we stepping out in faith when God calls us to do something outside our comfort zone? Are we trusting God enough to serve others, even when it’s inconvenient? These are the fruits of a living faith.

So, how do we make sure our lives are more than just leaves?

1. Examine your heart. What’s driving your actions? Are you serving out of love for God and others, or are you just going through the motions? Ask God to show you where your faith might need a little more depth.

2. Look for opportunities to show love. It doesn’t have to be something big. Maybe it’s sending an encouraging message to a friend, praying for someone who’s struggling, or offering to help a family member who needs it. When we act out of love and faith, that’s when we start to see the fruit God wants to produce in us.

3. Stay connected to God. Just like a tree needs roots to grow, we need to stay rooted in God through prayer, Scripture, and spending time in His presence. When we do, our faith will naturally lead to actions that honor Him.

Let’s take these words to heart, ladies. Let’s be women who live out our faith in real, tangible ways. Let’s make a difference in our homes, our communities, and the world around us. Because when our faith is alive and active, it not only brings joy to us—it brings glory to God. 

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This Week’s Challenge

Look for one specific way to put your faith into action this week. Whether it’s reaching out to someone in need, offering forgiveness, or serving where it’s uncomfortable—choose one act of love and do it with a heart rooted in Christ.

This Week’s Bible Verse

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Week at a Glance

TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY:
Inclusive and Impartial Love

Watch this week’s video at Time-Warp Wife or on Youtube (subscribe while you’re there).

Print off this week’s Bible verse at Time-Warp Wife.

Read JAMES 2:1-13 and Luke 16:19-31. Go through this section in your study guide and answer the questions at the end of that section.

Check in on the community at: facebook.com/groups/biblestudies.

If you are new to the group, now is a good time to introduce yourself. While you are there, maybe you could drop in a friendly message wishing others a blessed week, or share a prayer for the week ahead.

THURSDAY:
Faith Without Works

Read JAMES 2:14-26, Genesis 22 and Joshua 2. Go through this section in your study guide, and answer the questions at the end of that section

Share your reflections in the Facebook Group.

Friday:
Weekly Recap

Read Darlene’s final thoughts for the week. Note: If you aren’t subscribed, you can find the post at timewarpwife.com

Print out this week’s quote from the same article.

Visit the Facebook Group and share any final thoughts you might have for the week

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