Book of James cont’d

This is continued from my post yesterday.  I will continue to post the book of James for the next several days. 


As I have said before, I am not trying to preach, but then again I do want to share His Word with you.  These are things that mean something to me, and if it touches you or hits you and makes you really think, then that is just God speaking to you, or as I like to say, “It’s God smacking me upside the head and saying, ‘Listen up!’”


12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.  17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created.


Listening and Doing


19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  23 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 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does.  26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 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.

*italics are mine…

this is something that I really need to work on.  I need to be a doer!  I need to not just read His Word but also do what He wants me to do.  What He is trying to teach us all to do.  I need to do this so that others can see His work in me.  I need to stop being so impatient, bitter, angry, and speaking negatively.  We need to be loving, caring, encouraging and building each other up!! 

Pin It