You go to church. You read your Bible. You pray. You serve. But here’s the uncomfortable question: Are you actually a Christian, or are you just religious?

What if everything you think proves your faith actually proves nothing at all? What if there’s only ONE test that reveals whether your faith is real or just religious performance?

In today’s Battle Drill Daily Devotional, we explore James 2:13’s shocking test of authentic faith: mercy. This short sermon will challenge everything you think about spiritual maturity and Christian living.

📖 SCRIPTURE FOCUS: James 2:13 - “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”

⚡ IN THIS DEVOTIONAL:

- Why church attendance, Bible reading, and prayer don’t prove your faith

- The ONE test that reveals if your faith is real or just religion

- The story of Harriet: 20 years of church, zero mercy

- How you can serve for decades and still be spiritually immature

- Why an unforgiving Christian is an oxymoron

- The difference between looking spiritual and being transformed

- One powerful exercise to prove your faith is real tonight

💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

You can fake church attendance. You can manufacture religious activity. You can look spiritual on the outside while harbouring unforgiveness on the inside. But you cannot fake forgiveness. It either flows from a heart transformed by God’s grace, or it doesn’t flow at all.

James gives us the ultimate test: mercy. How quickly, how easily, how completely you show mercy to others reveals how deeply you’ve received God’s mercy yourself. This is the barometer. This is the measure. This is the test of real faith versus religious activity.

🙏 WHO THIS IS FOR:

Whether you’re a committed Christian questioning if your faith is authentic, seeking daily Bible encouragement about spiritual authenticity, or a curious seeker wondering what Christianity actually requires, this devotional message is for you. The Salvation Army’s Battle Drill Daily Devotional brings gospel-centered truth that separates religion from relationship.

✝️ THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH:

- You can serve for 20 years and be spiritually immature

- You can attend every church event and be far from God

- You can memorise the Bible and miss the Gospel’s heart

- You can look spiritual and be spiritually dead

Because the heart of the Gospel is mercy. G

More devotionals and resources: battledrilldevotional.com.
Prefer watching? Video devotionals at video.battledrilldevotional.com.
Get devotionals delivered straight to your inbox at devotional.battledrilldevotional.com.
See our Battle Ready Sermons at battlereadysermons.com and sign up via email at sermons.battlereadysermons.com.

YouTube (Video): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRCAfiHehjUmYEPsOE8o4ZxH64ZFetd6n

YouTube (Audio): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRCAfiHehjUnG3-4wfG09wAscbrX90HcP

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@battledrilldevotional

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/battledrilldevotional

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/battledrilldevotional/

Twitter: https://x.com/BattleDrillPod