Read James 3:1-12
"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be" (James 3:10).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
"Watch your mouth!"
Have you ever received such a warning from a friend, a parent, etc.?
What a amazing truth: We can hurt others simply by the words that come out of our mouths.
Oh, sure, we've all heard the childhood chant, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but
names will never hurt me."
The reality is, most of us can be deeply hurt at one time or another by the "names" we're
called, the unkind words, curse words, etc., that come our way. Or that we use ourselves.
May the Lord help us all today to be more careful about the things we say and how we
say them. Let us seek his help to bless others and never to curse them.
[tags]words of blessing, words that curse, blessing others, buy Bibles and more[/tags]
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by Gary
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Read James 2:14-16
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:26).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
It's always puzzled me to try to understand why some believers battle over "faith v. works," as though it were that silly riddle about which came first -- the chicken or the egg?
(No, I don't want this distracted into a chicken-egg controversy. LOL!)
Obviously, the link between faith and works, or "deeds" as this translation puts it, is something living and organic. They CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be separated, as though you could be a solid, faithful believer without your faith prompting a life filled with good deeds.
So get out there and show your world that your faith is real by the actions and attitudes the people in your world see in your life today!
[tags]faith, works, living for God, witnessing in your world, buy Bibles and more[/tags]
Posted on April 28th, 2008 by Gary
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Read James 2:1-13
"Judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
That's a good thing, wouldn't you agree? That mercy triumphs over judgment, I mean.
I doubt that any of us would be able to stand uncondemned before a perfectly righteous, holy God
and make it without mercy. Indeed, that's what the gospel message we have to share with the world is all about: God, in his grace and mercy, has forgiven us in Christ. We don't have to depend on our own merit, our own goodness, or our own "perfection."
Now THAT'S mercy!
[tags]God's grace, God's mercy, mercy and judgment, buy Bibles and more[/tags]
Posted on April 26th, 2008 by Gary
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Read James 1:19-27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27)
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
I really LOVE the verse I quoted above. It's one of a few very concise passages in Scripture that lay down a step-by-step summary or "nutshell" course in just what loving and serving God should be all about. (Some of my other favorites in this category are these: Micah 6:7,8; Matthew 22:37-40; and Romans 14.)
Simplify and clarify your life today: Walk with God, putting him first, and devote yourself to loving and serving all those folks you meet who have needs that you can serve. I'm pretty sure God can take care of the rest.
[tags]daily religion, acceptable religion, God's commands, buy Bibles and more[/tags]
Posted on April 22nd, 2008 by Gary
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Read James 1:1-18
"He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not
think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does"
(James 1:6,7).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Wouldn't it be great to live an absolutely confident, doubt-free life, 24/7??
I don't know about you, but that doesn't begin to describe me. On an average day, I'm afraid my level of faith reflects a ton of "double-mindedness." I recall a comment made by Mark Twain -- can't recall an exact quote -- about spelling and the creative mind. Something to the effect that a person who couldn't think of five or ten ways to spell the same word just didn't have any creative imagination!
If I don't go through the day with at least five or ten doubts rattling through my brain -- it just isn't normal.
So what's the solution? I guess it's simply to keep on trusting God, keep on trying. As we admit our doubts to him and allow him to do it, he builds our faith and fills us with confidence!
[tags]trusting God, faith, God's faithfulness, doubting, worry, buy Bibles and more[/tags]
Posted on April 21st, 2008 by Gary
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