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FAITH WORKS THROUGH LOVE
For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of
righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to
anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
-- Galatians 5:5-6 (WEB)
Notice that: "faith working through love." Faith works through
love. The NIV says "faith expressing itself through love." Faith
works through love. Faith worked through the love of people
carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus, because they really believed
that Jesus would help this man. They were right:
Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on
a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son,
cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you."
Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man
blasphemes."
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil
in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are
forgiven;' or to say, 'Get up, and walk?' But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..."
(then he said to the paralytic), "Get up, and take up your mat,
and go up to your house."
He arose and departed to his house. But when the multitudes
saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such
authority to men. -- Matthew 9:2-8 (WEB)
Again, faith worked through the love of a mother for her
daughter. She persisted in believing that Jesus would help her
daughter, even when Jesus' initial response seemed most
discouraging. Indeed, many people would have taken offense at
Jesus' seeming to ignore her and then even daring to compare her
with a dog, but this woman's faith in Jesus and love for her
daughter prevailed, and her daughter was healed from that very
hour:
Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of
Tyre and Sidon. Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those
borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of
David! My daughter is severely demonized!"
But he answered her not a word.
His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away; for
she cries after us."
But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep
of the house of Israel."
But she came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, help me."
But he answered, "It is not appropriate to take the children's
bread and throw it to the dogs."
But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs
which fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Be it
done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed
from that hour. -- Matthew 9:21-28 (WEB)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
-- Hebrews 13:8 (WEB)
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have
love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the
gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I
have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am
nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my
body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag,
is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its
own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But
where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are
various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be
done away with. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when
that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done
away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I
thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away
childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to
face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also
fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The
greatest of these is love. -- 1 Corinthians 13
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