*DAILY DEW 23RD/ OCTOBER/2021* *Faith And Works* _Key Bible Text:_ *Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.* (Romans 3:20 (KJV)) _Bible Insight:_ This passage deals with true faith and counterfeit faith. Counterfeit faith is dead (v.17). Why is it dead? It does not have works. And the works James is talking about is works of love (v.15-16). Jesus talks about such faith in Matthew 25 in the parable of sheep and goats. People who enter God’s kingdom don’t just claim to have faith, but demonstrate this faith by compassion and love. True faith results in good works and bears fruit (John 15:5-6). Counterfeit faith is deceptive (v.18). True faith is not just intellectual, theoretical or some kind of feeling. It is accompanied by a transformed life. Even demons believe and fear God. Our pious life, good intentions, religious duty, and church attendance can be deceptive if not accompanied by a transformed heart and life. Jesus says we have to be born again. True faith is illustrated by Abraham and Rahab. In v.21, Abraham was justified by works and in v.24 Rahab was also justified by works. Does this contradict Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 3:20 which says no one will be justified by works? Paul and James are not contradicting each other. Paul is talking about justification and James is talking about demonstration. You cannot be justified by works, rather we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone and in Christ alone. However, this justified faith is never alone, but accompanied, validated and demonstrated by works of love. Abraham believed in the promise of God, and it resulted in his act of offering Isaac on the altar. Rahab believed in the promise of God, and it resulted in providing refuge for the spies and risking her own life. True faith is trusting God’s means to save us through Christ. True faith results in putting our life, hopes, dreams and decisions on the line and choosing to trust and obey God, even when it does not make sense or it's inconvenient to us. MEDITATION: *How do we know if we are being transformed by the gospel? What can be the evidence for our genuine walk with Christ? How do we know our faith is real?* *#Dr_Nwoke_Blessing* *#Saturday_wisdomforliving* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Month_of_Goodnews* *#Hello_October* ❤ Links To Visit: Register for *HTP2021:* bit.ly/HTP2021_Registration *Podcast:* anchor.fm/daily-dew-devotional *FB Pages* www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *DDDblog* dailydewdevotion.blogspot.com/2021/10/faith-and-works.html *Telegram Group:* t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you. ..

*DAILY DEW 22ND/OCTOBER/2021* *Warning Against Favoritism* _Key Bible Text:_ *My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.* (James 2:1 (RSV)) _Bible Insight:_ Showing favoritism was as much a problem back then as it is today, even in the church. We constantly judge people based on external appearances. Our culture celebrates those who are rich and famous, it reveres those with power, worships those with success and listens to educated elites. We see this even in the church. Authority and recognition are given to people with money, status, education or even holding key positions in the government or corporate world. There is nothing wrong with success in this world, but why do we show favoritism? These signs of favoritism show a deeper heart issue. It is an issue of glory. Favoritism reveals what we truly glorify in our hearts. We esteem power, sex, money and fame more than anything in this world. We are ready to exchange anything for what we glorify. We tend to compromise, around the values we hold high. He was born in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. He was poor and did not have a home. He was rejected by the religious and social elites. Jesus became unattractive so we can be made attractive through His righteousness. Jesus was rejected so we can be accepted. Jesus became poor so we can become rich in Him. When the gospel takes deep root in our hearts, it rids us of any root of favoritism in our hearts. MEDITATION: *If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.* (James 2:8‭-‬9 (RSV)) *#Dr_Nwoke_Blessing* *#Friday_wisdomforliving* *#Becoming_More_Like_Jesus* *#Daily_Dew_Devotional* *#Month_of_Goodnews* *#Hello_October* ❤ Links To Visit: Register for *HTP2021:* bit.ly/HTP2021_Registration *Podcast:* anchor.fm/daily-dew-devotional *FB Pages* www.facebook.com/DavidJoshuaEgbochuo/ www.facebook.com/thedavidgen/ www.facebook.com/THEREVIVALCORPS/ *DDDblog* dailydewdevotion.blogspot.com/2021/10/warning-against-favoritism.html *Telegram Group:* t.me/joinchat/NzXQlVc9Hx7LfaRSnh9fHg Feel Free to Share with Friends. God bless you. ..