Day 326: The “Show Me” Epistle (James 2:18)

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18).

Through the Bible: James 1–5

Every US State has a nickname. Some are obvious: Florida Is the Sunshine State. Some are mysterious: New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment. Some are incomprehensible: Indiana is the Hoosier State. I’m told you have to establish proof of residency before anyone can tell you what a Hoosier is. But my favorite state nickname is Missiouri’s: The Show Me State.

The phrase goes back to an 1899 speech by Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver. Frustrated by eloquent speeches making grand claims without evidence, he said:

“I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I’m from Missouri; you’ve got to show me.”

In other words: Don’t just tell me—prove it.

Though the New Testament writer James was Jewish by culture and geography, in temperament he was pure Missourian. If Paul is the theologian, James is the rancher leaning on a fence post saying, “That’s nice, son—but let’s see what it looks in work boots.” In 108 verses, there are 54 imperative commands– telling believers what to do and what not to do. James is especially fond of verbs related to sight: “You see that…” “Look at…” “is shown by…”

The heartbeat of letter of James is the Missouri motto: Show me.

For first-time Bible readers, this emphasis on doing and demonstrating can be confusing. Aren’t we saved by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)? Yes, we are, and if you are worried about the seeming contradiction, you aren’t alone. Martin Luther called James “an epistle of straw,” and complained that, “it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it.”

But bear in mind that James addresses his letter to believers:

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

–James 1:1 ESV

In other words, James is not writing about how to become a believer, but how to act like one. And for a world of Missourians, that all comes down to what we can show them. Here are eight ways we demonstrate our faith to a watching world:

Show me your perseverance (James 1:2–4)

“Count it all joy… when you meet trials.” (James 1:2)

Not because trials feel joyful, but because perseverance is the visible proof that faith is being strengthened. When faith is genuine, storms don’t destroy it—they reveal it.

Show me your obedience (James 1:22)

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)

James’s mirror illustration is unforgettable: a person looks at themselves, sees what needs to change, and walks away unchanged. The problem isn’t ignorance. It’s inaction. Real faith responds to what God shows us.

Show me your love (James 2:1–9)

In this case, we demonstrate our love by what we don’t show:

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory (James 2:1)

Partiality isn’t just poor social etiquette—it’s a contradiction of the gospel. We reveal what we value by how we treat the people who can’t benefit us. James says love is visible. It’s embodied in the choices we make toward the overlooked and the ordinary.

Show me your faith (James 2:14–26)

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (James 2:18)

This is the heart of the epistle.

James isn’t contradicting Paul; he’s confronting people who want the language of salvation without the life of obedience. Paul answers, “How is a sinner made right before God?” James answers, “How can you see that someone’s faith is real?”

“Show me your faith apart from your works,” James challenges, “and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Faith is visible. It leaves evidence. As CS Lewis said in Mere Christianity, arguing about whether faith or works is more important “is like asking which blade of a pair of scissors is most necessary.”

Show me your wisdom (James 3:13–18)

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. (James 3:13)

True wisdom is demonstrated “by his good conduct.” It looks like gentleness, purity, peace, mercy—qualities you can see, not just doctrines you can recite. They are the footprints that show where a believer has walked.

Show me your humility (James 4:6–10)

¹⁰Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10)

God gives grace to the humble. Humility isn’t a feeling—it’s a posture. It looks like drawing near to God, resisting the devil, cleansing hands, purifying hearts. Humility can’t stay hidden; it expresses itself in repentance and dependence.

Show me your patience (James 5:7–11)

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient (James 5:7b-8)

James points to the farmer waiting for the harvest and to Job waiting for restoration. Patience is faith stretched across time. And stretched faith is seen faith.

Show me your prayers (James 5:13–18)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

James ends where all true believers must live: in prayer. Prayer that is fervent, trusting, and persistent. Elijah was a man “with a nature like ours,” but he prayed to a God unlike any other. Prayer is trust made visible.

The Show Me Challenge

James writes “to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion”—believers scattered across the world, living far from Jerusalem but close to temptation. His message to them is his message to us:

God has shown you who He is. Now show the world who you belong to.

Don’t hide your faith. Don’t settle for belief that never touches your habits, your relationships, your words, your generosity, or your neighbor. James isn’t asking for perfection. He’s asking for authenticity.

Not just saved by faith—but shaped by faith, strengthened by faith, and seen by those around you. .

For Further Reading

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