Passage: But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Journal: The problem with demons (fallen angels) is not a lack of unity in belief ("Even the demons believe . . .") or a lack of adequate information ("Even the demons . . . tremble"). There is no salvation in the orthodoxy of doctrine. In fact, demons once stood in the very presence of the glory of God. The problem with demons is the same as the problem with man; that is, a selfish heart bent on rebellion against God. A demon is known by its works, but its works are useless against the children of God. For God has called His children out of darkness into light, and this calling has been made from the far reaches of eternity. For even the sins of God's children beckon atonement; for the work of demons is purified in the righteousness of Christ. A demon is only able to work to attain that which is already possessed; that is, the sin that grows as a thorny vine out of the lost soul. Satan's very existence is fraught with frustration and defeat. A dead faith, a faith without works to glorify God, is no more than Satan putting a dress on a pig. A living faith, a faith extolling the fruit of the Spirit, is beyond Satan, who is ever clutching but never grasping. A dead faith views works as irrelevant, ever stumbling toward the grave. A living faith views works as the fragrance of grace; as a honeysuckle blooming along the path of righteousness.
John Dee Spicer
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About Me
I started the Daily Journal in 2000. I sent it as an email to a few friends (it was a round number, either 10 or 20, I can't remember exactly). It has grown over the years, primarily due to those original few forwarding it to others. During this time, I have journaled through Genesis, selected Psalms, the Gospel of John, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and Peter's letters. (These are the books I can remember for sure this morning, anyway.) I don't have seminary training and don't claim to have special wisdom. Rather, I simply desire that others develop a love for God's word. There is only one interpretation for any Bible passage, and I will rely on the wisdom of scholars through the ages (at least those at my disposal) to help with that one interpretation. I will also attempt some practical application. Somewhere along the way I started sharing some funny things my kids would say, and this became known as "Heard 'Round the House." I will continue to share these priceless nuggets as my kids provide material. The "Daily" Journal is a bit of a misnomer, since I only do it Monday through Thursday. I don't do it on Friday because I attend a 6 am Bible Study. I don't do it on the weekends because so many received it at work (I may revise this approach since I have gone to the "Blog" format). I do read my Bible on a daily basis, and strongly recommend a chronilogical daily Bible - you will read the Bible completely each year, and the events unfold in a historical fashion.
