NEW EVERY MORNING

James 3:13-18

   These verses could be titled Wisdom and Peace versus Bitter Jealousy and Selfish Ambition.  Wisdom and peace are qualities found in the lives of people who have faith in Christ.  Bitter jealousy and ambition are qualities found in the lives of people who have faith in themselves.

 

Outcomes of wisdom and peace are:

·        Good conduct

·        Works done in meekness of wisdom

·        Purity

·        Peace

·        Gentleness

·        Openness to reason

·        Full of mercy and good fruits (Galatians 5:22)

·        Impartiality

·        Sincerity

 

Outcomes of bitter jealousy and ambition are:

·        Boasting

·        Untruthfulness

·        Not of God’s wisdom

·        The source of disorder

·        The source of every vile practice

 

   Verse 18 is a great thought for today.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

   Plant righteousness in peace today as you glorify and enjoy God.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

 

  

NEW EVERY MORNING

Psalm 25

   We are taking a break from James.  This Psalm is a prayer for today.

 

    May you glorify and enjoy God as you worship Him today.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

 

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 3:5-12

   Have words ever just blurted out of your mouth and you wondered where they came from?  James has the answer.  He gives some facts about the tongue (speech) in these verses.

 

   We have insight into the function of speech that James did not have when he wrote these words.  Language memory is in the brain, and what we read and hear in our environment is stored in that memory.  The ability to communicate with language is an amazing gift from our Creator.  In fact, without the gift of language our knowledge of God would be very limited.

 

    The tongue (speech) is:

·        Small but able to do great things, good and bad

·        Like a small fire that destroys a forest

·        A world of unrighteousness

·        Part of our anatomy staining the whole body

·        Setting on fire the entire course of life

·        Set on fire by hell

·        Unable to be tamed by human resources

·        A restless evil full of deadly poison

·        Able to bless God and curse people who are made in God’s image

 

   The tongue is unusual in the quality of having opposing abilities existing together.  Salt water and fresh water cannot exist in the same body of water.  A fig tree cannot produce olives.  Therefore, a person who has placed his faith in Christ should have speech that glorifies God.

 

    Be aware of the power of your speech as you glorify and enjoy God today.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 3:5

   This verse speaks of the strongest muscle in the body, the tongue.  It is the muscle of speech.  Have you ever tried to talk without moving your tongue?  James is describing the destructive ability of speech.

 

   Today as you glorify and enjoy God be aware of how you talk.  Does your speech glorify God?

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 2:14-26

    How can you tell that your heart has been changed by Christ and your faith is real, not fantasy?  This is a common question.  James gives the answer in these verses; the affirmation of faith is seen in the things that you do – your works.  Actions do speak louder than words in affirming faith.

 

   He gives three examples in his discussion; one hypothetical and two involving real people in the Bible.  The first situation deals with poor Christians who are in need of food and clothing.  A pious statement to them that implies they must trust God to supply their needs, without helping them meet their needs, is faithless.

 

   God tested Abraham’s faith. (Genesis 22)  His son Isaac was to be sacrificed.  Abraham’s obedience was without question.  In this example James points out that obedience to God’s Word is involved in the works of faith.

 

   The third example shows faith that takes risks to do what is right.  Rahab protected two of God’s people from certain death. (Joshua 2)  She bravely stood up to the king while she protected the two spies from Israel.  Her faith took risks.

 

   From these examples we see acts of mercy, acts of obedience, and acts

of courage.  These are the fabric of the coat of faith.  Your faith is visible to all who know you because of what you do.  Faith without works is dead.

 

   So glorify and enjoy God today with your faith that is merciful, obedient, and courageous.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 2:1-13

   Discrimination is a word that has deep societal meaning.  Basically it means that one group of people has rights and privileges that another group of people does not have based on characteristics they cannot control.  James deals with discrimination in these verses.  He uses the example of financial status as the basis for discrimination.

 

   How we treat people is another religious reality check.  The standard cited in these verses is love your neighbor as yourself, but when you act on that love everyone gets equal treatment.  There is no judgment that makes one person seem more deserving than another person.

 

   Discrimination, showing partiality, is sin (9); and if you break God’s law in one point you are guilty, deserving judgment from the lawgiver.

God, the lawgiver, has an attribute that He gives to those who are His people, who are doers of the word.  Mercy is what God gives to sinners who only deserve His just judgment.  He forgives the sins of His people because of His mercy.  Because God has shown mercy to you, then you can show mercy in relationships.

 

   The final statement, mercy triumphs over judgment (13), is the attitude we should have towards people God sends our way.  We may take note of their condition in life but our response to them is always full of mercy, not judgment.  That is how God deals with His people.

 

   Today as you glorify and enjoy God, thank Him for His mercy; then, give that mercy to the people God brings your way.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 1:26-27

   These verses are reality checks as to the state of your religion.  There is a difference between religion and faith in Christ.  Religion defines a set of beliefs that are ritualistic in their practice.  Faith in Christ changes the heart and is based on love not ritual.

 

   James seems to be contrasting the concept of religious practice with true faith.  Words seem to be important to religion.  The tongue plays a role.  What comes out of your mouth shows where your heart is.

 

1.   The first reality check is how you manage the words that come from

      your mouth.

2.   The second reality check is how you deal with those who are not

      blessed with the good things God has given to you.

 

3.   The third reality check is how you faithfully live in a godless culture.

 

     Test your faith today with these checks as you live to glorify and enjoy God.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!

  

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 1:22-25

   These verses could be titled, Walk the Walk.  James tells us that we must respond to what we hear in God’s Word; the perfect law, the law of liberty.  He describes two types of hearers.  One is like a person who looks in the mirror, sees himself, but forgets what he looks like when he cannot see the reflection.

 

   God’s Word is a mirror that shows us how God sees us.  We have the opportunity to ask God to help us change, to become more like Him.  Or we can walk away satisfied with ourselves as we are.

 

   The second type of hearer is the one who sees himself in the mirror of God’s Word and acts on what he sees.  This person is described as being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts.  The outcome of his response is blessing in what he does.

 

   So, today do a hearing check.  How do you come to God’s Word?  Does it change your heart?  Or is it a rote activity that you have been trained to do, but there is no joy in it?

 

   The ultimate way to glorify and enjoy God today is by spending time in His Word and in His presence.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY

 

  

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 1:19-21

   These verses are a lesson on listening to God’s Word, which is referred to as the Word of Truth in the previous verse (18).  We hear God’s Word by reading it and listening to it being preached by faithful ministers.  There is a science to the study of God’s Word that prevents opinions from being the source of understanding.  Hermeneutics is the process by which scripture is interpreted so that the written word is not a person’s opinion.

 

   Sadly, through the years divisions over interpretation have produced many varieties of churches.  This creates the situation of opinion leading to heated discussion where arguments and anger erupt.  James is calling God’s people to listen to God’s Word without their personal opinions infecting what they hear. 

 

   The attitude needed to hear God’s Word is humility (meekness), not pride.  Coming to scripture with the understanding that this is how God speaks requires asking God to give you insight and understanding.  It also requires a willingness to change if Scripture says you are wrong.

 

   Another necessity for hearing God’s Word is time.  Whether you are listening to a pastor preach or you are reading God’s Word, you must spend time.  The more time you give to this activity, the greater insight and understanding God will give to you.

 

   Hearing God’s Word is one of the greatest ways you can glorify and enjoy God today.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY! 

 

NEW EVERY MORNING

James 1:16-18

   I did it my way!  Self sufficiency is the great deception that these verses discuss.  In fact, they could be titled Who is God?  The answer is simply, God is God.  There are many people who think they control their lives and destinies, making themselves god.  But that doesn’t change the fact that God is God!

 

  These verses tell us how God works in the lives of His people, and they refer to the circumstances we find ourselves in (good or bad) as good and perfect gifts from God.  Everything that happens in our lives is making us into what God created us to be.

 

   God does not change.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

His word is the truth that brought us to Him.  There is no room for self sufficiency if you are His child.

 

   As you glorify and enjoy God today, thank Him for His good and perfect gifts that are completing and perfecting you so you will lack nothing.

 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!