Riding Shotgun with James

Faith is never meant to stay an idea in our heads. Thoughts about God are meant to take root in our lives, shaping how we act, how we speak, and how we respond in the ordinary moments.

Reflection without action dries up. Action without reflection burns out. The Word calls us to both.

I haven’t been writing here as much these past weeks. Summer scattered my routines, and I’ve also slowed down to consider what this space is for. I don’t want to pressure myself with a schedule or a steady output. I’d rather write when Scripture is actively working in me, when it’s pushing me toward something I can live.

This week at church, Pastor John gave us just such a push. As we studied the book of James 1:19–27, he challenged us to write a “Because I…” truth statement about God, paired with an “I will…” action, and then share it with someone, for accountability’s sake.

James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

I drive Uber most days, and James reminds me that faith isn’t abstract: every shift I clock into, hands me chances to live, not just think, about the Word. It’s not enough to let Scripture impress me; I want it to impact the way I work.

So, here are some concrete steps I can take this week:

Listening first

James 1:19–20—“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

• Because God calls me to be quick to hear, I will give each rider my full attention in the first minute, just welcoming them and letting them set the tone.

Keeping the Word in front of me

James 1:25—“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

• Because God calls me to act on His Word, I will prepare one verse on a sticky note for my dashboard (for me, not for riders), as a reminder to practice patience and kindness with each person.

Choosing words carefully

James 1:26—“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”

• Because God calls me to guard my speech, I will commit to not grumble about traffic or other drivers during rides, but instead use neutral or positive words.

Offering small mercies

James 1:27—“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

• Because pure religion cares for the afflicted, I will keep a small supply of bottled water or tissues in the car so I can offer practical kindness without strings attached.

Final Thought:

James holds up a mirror and asks if I’m willing to see the truth. It’s not enough to be impressed by the Word and then walk away unchanged. Every line James writes in his epistle pushes me toward wholeness. Ears that listen, hands that serve, a tongue that’s under control.

James won’t let me separate what I believe from how I live, and maybe that’s why his letter has become a steady companion for me. It keeps me honest and it keeps me hungry for the kind of wholeness only God can give.