Listening and Doing
James 1:19-27
Again, these are pretty straight-forward so I have put them in the same format
1:19
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so decieve yourselves. Do what it says.
1:23-24
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
1:27
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.
To apply:
James 1:22
Tuesday, November 18
Monday, November 17
Living: James - Chapter One; Section One
Trials and Temptations
James 1:1-18
I think most of this one is pretty self-explanatory, but the parts that stuck out to me the most are italicised and in a smaller font so you can see it better.
1:2-8
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you Lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because 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.
1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood to the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
1:14
But each one is temped when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.
1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
To apply:
Ephesians 6:16
James 1:1-18
I think most of this one is pretty self-explanatory, but the parts that stuck out to me the most are italicised and in a smaller font so you can see it better.
1:2-8
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you Lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because 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.
1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood to the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
1:14
But each one is temped when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.
1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
To apply:
Ephesians 6:16
Sunday, November 16
Learning: James (An Introduction)
James... I've seen this page in my Bible before. Most recently, last night. I ignored it but I shouldn't have and I'm returning to it now. I have hope that writing - writing, reading and giving my heart to Him will heal me. He will help me, but He will not stay in contact with me if I chose not to keep in touch with him. This I have learned by going the long way around.
There is nothing more vulnerable than the heart, and nothing more analytical than the head: therefore, because your head is a direct funnel to your heart, your head can be the most dangerous thing in this world -but it doesn't have to be. One must change his way of thinking to secure himself even when he feels so secure. However, never forget that there is always hope. Because this also means that your head can be used as the most important tool in proving that He is real, to yourself and to the entire world.
Anger is a part of the grieving process and an inevitable part at that - fear though, the man who will not let his anger go, and who will hold a grudge against you, because that shows you who he really is on the inside. Use him as an example of what not to be. The most excellent examples to learn from though, are your own failures. Failing is not a reason to check out early in the least, rather it is most definitely a lesson that was taught so that you will not repeat.
Our Faith determines our attitudes and actions. Don't like the way things are going? Then re-evaluate your faith as a christian. Not what you believe in, but how devoted you have been. Going through James and journaling will be the way I re-evaluate my own walk.
Jessica has been a close friend of mine for a while now, we met at a summer camp in 2008, and were baptized on the same day about a month later. We still keep in touch and I talk to her periodically about different struggles and things I find in the bible because she is not only a great friend but an amazing accountability partner. Today I commented on a note that she had written about the second chapter in James to tell her that I also had decided after to start going through James as well. Perhaps the most intriguing thing though, was her reply to me after I asked her if she would pray for me. She said "Of course you silly girl!"
I also admitted that I felt selfish asking for such a thing but she had an answer for that too; "It's NOT. It's selfish to not give your problems to him."
Wow, I had never thought of it like that before! Of course I never thought it selfish of others when they had asked me to pray for them but for some reason until this point it was different for myself.
I told her that I would remember, and promised to write it down.
Thus begins a journey journaling through James, finding stronger faith within myself, and with every chapter that goes by perhaps a new chapter of life as well.
Scriptures to apply:
2 Timothy 3:16
Hebrews 11:1
Deuteronomy 30
1 Peter 1:6
There is nothing more vulnerable than the heart, and nothing more analytical than the head: therefore, because your head is a direct funnel to your heart, your head can be the most dangerous thing in this world -but it doesn't have to be. One must change his way of thinking to secure himself even when he feels so secure. However, never forget that there is always hope. Because this also means that your head can be used as the most important tool in proving that He is real, to yourself and to the entire world.
Anger is a part of the grieving process and an inevitable part at that - fear though, the man who will not let his anger go, and who will hold a grudge against you, because that shows you who he really is on the inside. Use him as an example of what not to be. The most excellent examples to learn from though, are your own failures. Failing is not a reason to check out early in the least, rather it is most definitely a lesson that was taught so that you will not repeat.
Our Faith determines our attitudes and actions. Don't like the way things are going? Then re-evaluate your faith as a christian. Not what you believe in, but how devoted you have been. Going through James and journaling will be the way I re-evaluate my own walk.
Jessica has been a close friend of mine for a while now, we met at a summer camp in 2008, and were baptized on the same day about a month later. We still keep in touch and I talk to her periodically about different struggles and things I find in the bible because she is not only a great friend but an amazing accountability partner. Today I commented on a note that she had written about the second chapter in James to tell her that I also had decided after to start going through James as well. Perhaps the most intriguing thing though, was her reply to me after I asked her if she would pray for me. She said "Of course you silly girl!"
I also admitted that I felt selfish asking for such a thing but she had an answer for that too; "It's NOT. It's selfish to not give your problems to him."
Wow, I had never thought of it like that before! Of course I never thought it selfish of others when they had asked me to pray for them but for some reason until this point it was different for myself.
I told her that I would remember, and promised to write it down.
Thus begins a journey journaling through James, finding stronger faith within myself, and with every chapter that goes by perhaps a new chapter of life as well.
Scriptures to apply:
2 Timothy 3:16
Hebrews 11:1
Deuteronomy 30
1 Peter 1:6