Day 232 – Faith and Works

Psalm 119:113 SAMEK. I hate the double minded, but I love Your law.

 114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

 115 Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my Elohiym!

 116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold me up, and I will be safe, and I will always observe Your statutes.

 118 You reject those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood. 119 You put away the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore, I love Your testimonies. 120 My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Kurios – Supreme Authority

Huios of Anthropos – Son of Man

Hagios Pneuma – Sacred, Holy, Violent Wind, Breath, Spirit

Iesous – Jesus

Pater – Father

God’s character:

Hiding Place

Shield

Hope

Do you know double minded people, those who say one thing and do another? You can’t trust them. Their actions speak for themselves.

The psalmist said he hated double minded people. They were wicked. Instead, he loved Elohiym’s law and trusted in Him to keep him safe. Elohiym was his hiding place, his shield, and his hope. He told Elohiym he would keep His commandments and observe His statutes.

Is Yeshuwa your hiding place? Is He your shield? Do you read His Word and put your hope in Him as the psalmist did? What vows did you make when you accepted Him as Your Savior and Lord?

Many Christians are like the double minded people the psalmist mentioned that he hated. They go to church and sing the songs, but their lives point to another way of life, one that doesn’t honor Yeshuwa, but themselves.

Christians who honor Yeshuwa spend their time in Yeshuwa’s presence whenever the opportunity comes their way. They read His Word, attend church and Bible studies, and are available for whatever Yeshuwa calls them to do. Yeshuwa won’t give double minded Christian’s assignments to go to the nations or their neighborhoods. They are like the five virgins who came with empty lamps and didn’t gain entrance to the wedding.

Matthew 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 However, while the bridegroom was delayed, they slumbered and slept. 6 At midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 However, the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 While they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door closed. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Kurios, Kurios, open to us!’ 12 However, he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Huios of Anthropos is coming.

If you don’t have the oil of the Hagios Pneuma in you, you will never be ready when Yeshuwa returns. He will turn you away, telling you, He doesn’t know you. None of your good works will open the door and let you in. You need to combine your good works with faith. Faith will always produce good works and open the door.

James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 However, 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. 19 You believe that there is one Theos. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 However, do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 The Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed Theos, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” He was called the friend of Theos. 24 You see then a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, Rahab the harlot also was justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The psalmist depended on Elohiym and His Law to show him the path of life. Who do you depend on for eternal life? Yeshuwa said He was the only way, the truth, and the life. No man could come to Him any other way.

John 14:6 Iesous said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Pater except through Me.

When Iesous lives in you, people will know because your life will reflect your faith and love for people. The psalmist’s life reflected his love and devotion to Elohiym.

Let’s pray: Father, let my life reflect Your love and devotion for You and those You call me to serve. Let my praise and honor come before Your throne and fill me with Your fullness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright 7 September 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux