Category: James
-
An Enduring Faith
James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The Christian life is a journey. It begins for everyone at the moment of the new birth when the…
-
Drawing Near to God
James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” How close are you to God? How close do you want to be? The verse above instructs us of a simple truth – if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. So how, exactly, does one do this? …
-
Drawing Near to God
James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Do you believe the promises of God? The Bible is filled with them – but do you know what they are? And of those you may know, that you may have read or otherwise heard about, do you actually believe them? Do…
-
The Importance of Context
James 1:19-20 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” How often have you heard the verse above quoted when someone is trying to get the point across that it is better to…
-
Life’s Battles
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” So much of life is a battle. Some struggle to make a living. It seems like it’s always such an uphill climb. Others fight addictions, but with little success. There is fighting within families, and broken homes, broken relationships, and…
-
Two Ways
James 3:16-17 “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Throughout the Bible, the lives we lead are talked about as a “way.” For example, Jesus talked about the narrow way…
-
Inside Out
John 18:28 “Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.” James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands,…
-
Religion
James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Are you religious? What, in God’s view, is religion? The word translated “religion” here in James 1 means “ceremonial observance.” That’s what most people think…
-
The Greatest Gift Giver
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. . .” John 17:1-2 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have…
-
Eternity
James 4:14 “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” My daughter said something to me awhile back that I’ve been thinking about ever since. We were at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. There were probably 20,000 people there or so. It was as we were taking…
To Encourage You 