The Epistle of JAMES KJV. Bible.
Faith without works cannot be called faith. "Faith without works is dead" (2:26), and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith is insufficient. Faith must be there, but it must be more. It must be inspired action. Throughout his epistle to Jewish believers, James integrates true faith and everyday practical experience by stressing that faith must manifest itself in works of faith.
Faith endures trials. Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance. Faith undertsands temptations. It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin. Faith obeys the Word. It will not merely hear and not do. Faith produces doer's. Faith harbors no prejudice. For James, faith and favoritism cannot coexist. Faith displays itself in works. Faith is more than mere words; it is more than knowledge; it is demonstrated by obedience; and it overly responds to the promises of God. Faith controls the tongue. This small but immensely powerful part of the body must be held in check. Faith can do it. Faith acts wisely. It gives us the ability to choose wisedom that is heavenly and to shun wisdom that is earthly. Faith produces separation from the world and submission to God. It provides us with the ability to resist the Devil and humbly draw near to God. Finally, faith waits patiently for the coming of the Lord. Through trouble and trial it strifles complaining.
The name Iakobos (James) in 1:1 is the basis for the early title Iakobou Epistole, "Epistle of James." Iakobos is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jacob, a Jewish name common in the first century.
Day 14
No sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat
than it withers the grass; its flower falls,
and its beautiful appearance perishes.
James 1:11
I'd forgotten. I was accustomed to living in Virginia, where lawns stay green year-round. So when our grass began to fade from its brilliant emerald to dull, yellow-green and then to brown, I panicked. I panicked until I remembered that in the Midwest, grass goes dormant in the winter as well as in the heat of summer. Dormancy-that listless, inactive, nongrowing season when extreme cold or brutal heat rob the beauty of a lush, green landscape.
Have you ever been tempted toward dormancy in your spiritual life? I have. The temptation comes when the heat is on and troubles that have been smoldering suddenly burst into angry flames all around me.
Or when worry's icy fingers squeeze my confidence so tightly that it shatters into pieces. These are times when I, too, am tempted to dr up-go dormant. God seems so very far away.
What does dormancy look like for a Christian woman? She stops going to church or goes only out of habit and shields her sooul so nothing of consequence can touch her there. She avoids faith-filled friends. She cancels her devotion time with Jesus. She slips quietly into the silent, spiritual desert, the icy polar cap, where nothing grows.
Our Savior, Jesus, promises in Matthew 10:22, "He who endures to the end will be saved." What's more, Jesus makes enduring possible through the enabling strength of His Word. Christ enables us to focus on Him-- not on our circumstances. Jesus helps us focus on His power, instead of on our feelings. And while the world snickers at our faith, the Spirit assures us that the Lord is faithful. He will bring us through the toughest trails because He loves us with an everlasting love.
Prayer suggestion. When you are tempted to go to the desert or to go dormant, ask the Spirit in to remind you of the truth: God is faithful. He loved you to death in the cross of His Son, and He will not abandon you. Do you know someone who needs this kind of encouragement today? Ask your Lord to help you give it. KJV BIBLE
Faith without works cannot be called faith. "Faith without works is dead" (2:26), and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith is insufficient. Faith must be there, but it must be more. It must be inspired action. Throughout his epistle to Jewish believers, James integrates true faith and everyday practical experience by stressing that faith must manifest itself in works of faith.
Faith endures trials. Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance. Faith undertsands temptations. It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin. Faith obeys the Word. It will not merely hear and not do. Faith produces doer's. Faith harbors no prejudice. For James, faith and favoritism cannot coexist. Faith displays itself in works. Faith is more than mere words; it is more than knowledge; it is demonstrated by obedience; and it overly responds to the promises of God. Faith controls the tongue. This small but immensely powerful part of the body must be held in check. Faith can do it. Faith acts wisely. It gives us the ability to choose wisedom that is heavenly and to shun wisdom that is earthly. Faith produces separation from the world and submission to God. It provides us with the ability to resist the Devil and humbly draw near to God. Finally, faith waits patiently for the coming of the Lord. Through trouble and trial it strifles complaining.
The name Iakobos (James) in 1:1 is the basis for the early title Iakobou Epistole, "Epistle of James." Iakobos is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jacob, a Jewish name common in the first century.
Day 14
No sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat
than it withers the grass; its flower falls,
and its beautiful appearance perishes.
James 1:11
I'd forgotten. I was accustomed to living in Virginia, where lawns stay green year-round. So when our grass began to fade from its brilliant emerald to dull, yellow-green and then to brown, I panicked. I panicked until I remembered that in the Midwest, grass goes dormant in the winter as well as in the heat of summer. Dormancy-that listless, inactive, nongrowing season when extreme cold or brutal heat rob the beauty of a lush, green landscape.
Have you ever been tempted toward dormancy in your spiritual life? I have. The temptation comes when the heat is on and troubles that have been smoldering suddenly burst into angry flames all around me.
Or when worry's icy fingers squeeze my confidence so tightly that it shatters into pieces. These are times when I, too, am tempted to dr up-go dormant. God seems so very far away.
What does dormancy look like for a Christian woman? She stops going to church or goes only out of habit and shields her sooul so nothing of consequence can touch her there. She avoids faith-filled friends. She cancels her devotion time with Jesus. She slips quietly into the silent, spiritual desert, the icy polar cap, where nothing grows.
Our Savior, Jesus, promises in Matthew 10:22, "He who endures to the end will be saved." What's more, Jesus makes enduring possible through the enabling strength of His Word. Christ enables us to focus on Him-- not on our circumstances. Jesus helps us focus on His power, instead of on our feelings. And while the world snickers at our faith, the Spirit assures us that the Lord is faithful. He will bring us through the toughest trails because He loves us with an everlasting love.
Prayer suggestion. When you are tempted to go to the desert or to go dormant, ask the Spirit in to remind you of the truth: God is faithful. He loved you to death in the cross of His Son, and He will not abandon you. Do you know someone who needs this kind of encouragement today? Ask your Lord to help you give it. KJV BIBLE
No comments:
Post a Comment