Judging
James 4:11-12
"11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Judging our neighbors/friends/family/coworkers is easy to do. Isn't it always easier to spot what someone else is doing and pointing out their shortcomings and failures? Of course it is but it isn't right.
It isn't that God doesn't want us to help one another grow out of those areas where we fall short - but that is held for those who already know Christ and then we do it out of love to help them - not to judge them. It is not our role to fill with those who don't know God.
Here James is pointing out that judging our neighbor(not our spiritual brother/sister) is taking on the role that God plays. Our role is to point them to Christ. They need to know Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him. It is not their daily faults or the things they do wrong that should draw our attention - it is the fact that they need a personal saving relationship with Jesus - so pray for them - reach out to them - invite them over for dinner - but don't judge them.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A Lift - August 21
A Lift
James 4:8-10
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Did you ever need a lift in life? Ever felt like you hit rock bottom and couldn't find your way back up or out? Have you ever just needed someone there to help you?
That is something God promises in James 4:10 - if we humble ourselves and admit to God that we need Him - that we can't do it on our own - that we need His help because whatever we are facing is above and beyond our capacity to deal with it- it is then that He comes and lifts us up. It is then that He steps in and reveals Himself to us.
Being humble is not recognizing all your faults and beating yourself up - being humble is simply recognizing your limitations and asking God to step in. Don't stay down but let God lift you up today.
James 4:8-10
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Did you ever need a lift in life? Ever felt like you hit rock bottom and couldn't find your way back up or out? Have you ever just needed someone there to help you?
That is something God promises in James 4:10 - if we humble ourselves and admit to God that we need Him - that we can't do it on our own - that we need His help because whatever we are facing is above and beyond our capacity to deal with it- it is then that He comes and lifts us up. It is then that He steps in and reveals Himself to us.
Being humble is not recognizing all your faults and beating yourself up - being humble is simply recognizing your limitations and asking God to step in. Don't stay down but let God lift you up today.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Choices
Choices
James 4:6-7 "6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Life is about choices - we make them everyday - multiple times a day - will I get out of bed? - What will I eat for breakfast? How will I speak to my wife - my children - my friends - my co-workers? Will I speak with my God through prayer? What will I do today?
One of the choices James presents us with is this - will I submit to God? Will I follow His word? Will I live the life He has called me to live? Will I give myself fully to Him? This is the biggest daily choice we make.
There will be many choices today in my life today - even though it is only 5:47 am - I have already made several choices that will affect my day (hopefully for the better) including spending time with God- walking the dog and writing some notes on the sermon for Sunday - how I spoke to my son. One of my daily choices is to say, "Today, I say 'yes' ,Lord" - "Here, I am Lord - use me". That is a choice that drives all the rest.
James 4:6-7 "6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Life is about choices - we make them everyday - multiple times a day - will I get out of bed? - What will I eat for breakfast? How will I speak to my wife - my children - my friends - my co-workers? Will I speak with my God through prayer? What will I do today?
One of the choices James presents us with is this - will I submit to God? Will I follow His word? Will I live the life He has called me to live? Will I give myself fully to Him? This is the biggest daily choice we make.
There will be many choices today in my life today - even though it is only 5:47 am - I have already made several choices that will affect my day (hopefully for the better) including spending time with God- walking the dog and writing some notes on the sermon for Sunday - how I spoke to my son. One of my daily choices is to say, "Today, I say 'yes' ,Lord" - "Here, I am Lord - use me". That is a choice that drives all the rest.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
envy - August 19
James 4:4-5
4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
Do you ever think of God as being envious? He is a jealous God - but not in the way we think of. God desires all of us because He is the only One who satisfies - He is the only One who can fulfill our every need and He is envious of anything we give ourslves to in the way that we are to give ourselves to Him. He want to be our all! Is He that to you?
4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
Do you ever think of God as being envious? He is a jealous God - but not in the way we think of. God desires all of us because He is the only One who satisfies - He is the only One who can fulfill our every need and He is envious of anything we give ourslves to in the way that we are to give ourselves to Him. He want to be our all! Is He that to you?
Monday, August 18, 2008
Prayer - August 18
August 18
James 4:1-3 "1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
You don't have because you don't ask is one of the sadder statements in the Bible because it is here that we discover that perhaps we are missing out on things that God desires for us. We don't have because we don't ask let's us know that God desires to do great things in our life if we will only turn to Him and seek those things.
James also lets us know that there are times when what we ask for is selfish and is something that comes from wrong motives. It is here that we must give ourselves a heart checkup - looking at the things we ask for with God's eyes - being sure that our motives are right and pure.
As a church we want to pursue all that God has for us. asking for all the great things - eternal things that will make a difference in the our lives as well as in the lives of others. Let us ask of God - for changed lives and greater obedience towards him as we pray today.
James 4:1-3 "1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
You don't have because you don't ask is one of the sadder statements in the Bible because it is here that we discover that perhaps we are missing out on things that God desires for us. We don't have because we don't ask let's us know that God desires to do great things in our life if we will only turn to Him and seek those things.
James also lets us know that there are times when what we ask for is selfish and is something that comes from wrong motives. It is here that we must give ourselves a heart checkup - looking at the things we ask for with God's eyes - being sure that our motives are right and pure.
As a church we want to pursue all that God has for us. asking for all the great things - eternal things that will make a difference in the our lives as well as in the lives of others. Let us ask of God - for changed lives and greater obedience towards him as we pray today.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Wisdom from Above - August 16
August 16
James 3:14 "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
Vs. 17 is one of my favorite verses as it is the definition for wisdom - pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. These are the qualities that make a person of wisdom.
When Solomon became king after his father's reign was over, he was asked by God to identify one thing he desired. Solomon answered "Wisdom" for that is what he needed to govern the nation.
Wisdom is essential to following God and to lead others to follow Him as well. Wisdom is what tells us how to apply what God is teaching us. Wisdom show us how to live for Him. Seek wisdom - value wisdom - ask God for wisdom and you will then be identified by others as a person of God.
James 3:14 "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
Vs. 17 is one of my favorite verses as it is the definition for wisdom - pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. These are the qualities that make a person of wisdom.
When Solomon became king after his father's reign was over, he was asked by God to identify one thing he desired. Solomon answered "Wisdom" for that is what he needed to govern the nation.
Wisdom is essential to following God and to lead others to follow Him as well. Wisdom is what tells us how to apply what God is teaching us. Wisdom show us how to live for Him. Seek wisdom - value wisdom - ask God for wisdom and you will then be identified by others as a person of God.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Wisdom - August 15
August 15
James 3:13
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
The wise prove themselves wise by living a good life - characterized by deeds done in humility. Wisdom does not point fingers or show off - wisdom is part action but mostly attitude. A person with authority is not necessarily a wise person but a wise person is able to take a position of authority and redefine it - by serving others quietly - by being there and being responsible - by demonstrating through actions of all shapes and sizes that they are more concerned about helping others than their own welfare or promotion.
Wisdom is something that is worth chasing after. The world needs more people with wisdom - it starts with building a relationship with God. Chase wisdom with all you have.
James 3:13
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
The wise prove themselves wise by living a good life - characterized by deeds done in humility. Wisdom does not point fingers or show off - wisdom is part action but mostly attitude. A person with authority is not necessarily a wise person but a wise person is able to take a position of authority and redefine it - by serving others quietly - by being there and being responsible - by demonstrating through actions of all shapes and sizes that they are more concerned about helping others than their own welfare or promotion.
Wisdom is something that is worth chasing after. The world needs more people with wisdom - it starts with building a relationship with God. Chase wisdom with all you have.
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