Tag: James

Daily Word

James 5

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Read James 5 – The Lord doesn’t miss a thing. Our chapter begins with an admonishment against the wealthy, self-indulgent, oppressors of the day. Meanwhile, the Lord (through James) encourages us to be patient. (:7). We are reminded of the prophets patience, and Job specifically. He was up against the very trials of Satan, yet persevered and the Lord generously restored him.

Verse :12 is so simple and right. May your YES be yes and your NO be no…. there is no need for swearing, the Lord will not ask you, “But did you cross your heart, and hope to die, and stick a needle in your eye?” about it. (Where do we come up with things like that anyway???) That goes for God and man… be a person who’s YES and NO does not waiver.

Verses :13-18 speak on the privilege and responsibility of prayer. One should pray for themselves, rejoice, call on the elders, and verse :16… notice what’s required: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

I was part of a recovery ministry for 5 years. When I was new in the program I balked at the idea of confessing my sins to another person. I thought it was all between Jesus and me; he knew, he forgave, so why speak about that which has been forgiven? Finally, the day came. I couldn’t move forward in the program without taking this step, and so I fearfully met with a person I knew I could trust and she graciously listened as I poured out my confession. Beloved, I can’t even begin to explain the healing that washed over me! I have never felt so clean! Our verse does not say ‘so you may be forgiven’, it says ‘so you may be healed’. If you are holding something that is churning in your heart right now, pray hard about who the LORD wants you to confess it to. Do not let it fester; it has already stolen enough of your life. Do what the LORD instructs so you may be healed.

Beloved, I pray the Book of James has blessed you and that you return to it every so often for a well check. Tomorrow we will visit the Psalms.

Daily Word

James 4

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Read James 4 – (2min, 27 sec if you were thinking up an excuse to put it off) We get in our own way so often. James asks, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” :1

The one you’re fighting with may be in the wrong, but where is your pride in the situation? Is there another way? Do you imagine Jesus standing next to you shouting, “Yeah! You tell em!” Of course not!! Instead Scripture reminds, that the Holy Spirit yearns jealously for us (:5).

Beloved, when you go off course, you will feel the Holy Spirit’s presence cringing within you, but you also have the free-will power to push his voice to the side. You can do this so much that you no longer hear it. Scripture tells us to submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee. That is power, that is fighting with God on your side, and the first step is on you. Lay down that pride, instead submit to God… give a quick prayer before you respond to the person who has ruffled your feathers, “Jesus, give me words.”

Verses :13-16 speak about setting goals and leaving the Lord out of them. Hold on loosely to this life; it can change in an instant. Always strive to be in the center of God’s will. “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” :15

You might enjoy listening to the David Crowder Band’s – HOW HE LOVES US. It kept spilling into my thoughts as I read this morning. May Jesus’s love fill your heart as the Holy Spirit guides your thoughts, words and actions today!

Daily Word

James 3

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Read James 3 – again, read it.  I just timed it and it took just 2 minutes plus 21 seconds to read, so please don’t say you don’t have time. And if your bible is not close, just put it in the search engine: James 3, and there you have it.  Let a verse speak to your heart before being influenced by anything I have to say.  

The chapter title in my bible says:  Taming the Tongue.  The very first verse is one I am very cautious of when writing these blogs.  I am not here to teach, but to encourage.  I am not called to teach, but to learn… and happy (honored! grateful! blessed!) to share this journey with you.

James speaks about the tongue for :12 verses.  Did it grab your attention more than if he would have said, “speak kindly,” or something gentle like that?  There was nothing gentle about :8, “but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”  This kind of conviction saves us from glossing over these words.  Remember, this is for you, not your spouse or your kids, or your boss, or your passengers (in my case).  James calls us to get our own selves in order.  He wants us to see what Jesus sees with clear eyes because only then can we bring it to the cross.

Verses :13-18 What kind of wisdom resonates with you?  If you recognize it as the one led by selfish ambition, pray about that.  Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are and he loves you too much to leave you that way!

Daily Word

James 2

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Read James 2 – I learned an equation early in my faith.  It has helped me understand the difference between Biblical Christianity and everything else.  James captures it well here in our chapter, Faith + Nothing = Salvation as evidenced by Good Deeds.  Our good deeds are a celebration of all that Jesus has done for us.  Every belief system apart from Biblical Christianity will tell you Faith + Works = Salvation or even just Possible Salvation… they keep you guessing.  Jesus paid it all, and the unstoppable overflow from His love in us should spill onto others by our actions.  It’s the best economy there is!

In the Book of James, there should be a verse that pops out at you in every chapter.  My bible has lots of verses underlined with dates… those are the verses the Holy Spirit spoke to me the most at that time.  Each time a person reads the Word, they are different, they are older, their circumstances change.  One could read the same chapter every year and be convicted by something different each time.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing into the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

So read, Beloved, and let the Great Physician have his way with your heart.  I can share my verse from today, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” 2:17  That tells me to go love people.  It reminds me to listen to their heart and do what I can with action and not just words.  And when I think about it, it’s very exciting, like a daily treasure hunt for Jesus!  Abba, who do you have for me today???

Will you share your verse with me?

Daily Word

James 1

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Read James 1 – Wow!  This is so good!

James addresses how to handle trials (:2-4), faith and double-mindedness (:5-7), poverty and wealth (:9-11)… I could go on and on, but let the verses speak to you.  Trusting the Holy Spirit to awaken your heart to what’s important for you today.

Enjoy this short chapter, be strengthened, convicted and encouraged by these good and perfect gifts that come down from our Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows. (my paraphrase of :17).

Daily Word

James

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Read James 1:1-4 – First, to find James, turn to the back of your bible, Revelation, then turn 40-50 pages in (if you have a thick bible like I do).  You’ll pass Jude, 123John, 12Peter these are all short epistles.  James is sandwiched between Hebrews and 1 Peter.

Now, if your bible contains some sort of introduction, read that.  The James who wrote this is Jesus’ brother.  He was not an apostle.  The book of James is one of the earliest written in the New Testament.  Let’s think about that.  This would have been all the first believers had to go on, and as you read I think you’ll discover how comprehensive James was for Christian living.  

Beloved, we are the only bible many people will read.  People will not go to church or dust off their great grampa’s bible to consider Jesus, but they will watch you, how you live, if you have integrity and joy.  Do you have a life that makes Jesus apparent? 

James writes to the twelve tribes that were scattered among the nations.  This would have been after the events of Acts, when Stephen was martyred and the Jewish-Christians fled in many directions.  Life was difficult, they did not have a church to lean into because it was all brand new.  Yet, it also applies to every believer today too.  So, what is the first thing James tells them:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops your perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  :2-4

Beloved, is joy your go to emotion when you face a trial?  The natural inclination in a trial is fear and worry, but as a Christian you are to take those off and put on joy.  This takes some training.  James not only tells believers what to do, he tells us why.  ‘Why’ is a good thing to know when you have to make a hard change in your thinking.  He says it is to develop perseverance, and he gives that a ‘why’ as well… so we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  Now, that sounds good to me!

I pray this verse permeates you.  I encourage you to memorize it, so when you find yourself in a trial you’re able to cast those fears and worries at the foot of the cross and set your heart and mind on the joy and all that ties into a life lived for Jesus our Savior.