The common belief in secular culture is that we who are "saved by grace" Christ-followers (Ephesians 2:8-9) take the Bible very seriously. We are identified most notably to the public by one man (Jesus) and one book (the Bible), yet our unity and beliefs are severely questioned by skeptics. Why? James answers this question pointedly.
Read MorePartiality within the body of Christ is intolerable, but what is even more concerning is the level of self-protection that fuels partiality. Self-protection is self-serving and caters to its own desires. It manipulates its environment in order to ensure that self is deemed most important, even if that requires making decisions that include showing favoritism.
Read MoreThere are those who are financially poor, others that are spiritually poor, and still others that are relationally poor. Yet I wonder how we personally view those who are poor in all facets of the word? Do we distance ourselves or draw near? Do we regard them more or less? Or do we place different stigmas, assumptions or expectations on people who are financially poor more so than spiritually poor?
Read MoreThere is an epidemic in the body of Christ (this side of heaven) called partiality. It is not a term used often because it is justified as an issue of preference rather than prejudice, but it is easily identified in the over-saturation of church buildings and denominations across the United States.
Read MoreThere is constant friction between the flesh and the Holy Spirit that dwells in the hearts of those who have accepted Christ as personal Savior. The flesh seeks personal satisfaction above all else and will stop at nothing to gain whatever pleases its desires, while the Holy Spirit purposes the sovereign will of God that does not conform to man but convicts and holds man accountable to the standard of Scripture.
Read MoreFalse perception is an epidemic in the church. It lives in the heart of man and manifests itself through masks we wear publicly, thriving within the crucible of religion. It is deceiving because others get a false sense that we are more righteous than we truly are, while we convince ourselves internally that marginal application of Scripture is acceptable behavior.
Read MoreThis entire section on hearing and doing culminates with a call to persevere. It began with a warning on self-deception followed by an example that we could easily relate to, and now finishes with a vision of reward to those who apply the Word. James affirms us that God's Law, His Word, is perfect.
Read MoreWhen we stare into a mirror we see a reflection of what we physically look like, but it is only a physical reflection and not a spiritual one which James points to. That reflection is demonstrated in our application of Scripture which God always sees but those around us may or may not.
Read MoreNo matter how you slice it, application of God's Word is the true mark of a Christ-follower. It is the fruit produced from a spiritual harvest, defining who we are in the midst of a world bent against Christianity. Bottom-line: Application is our call to obedience, not merely knowledge attainment, lest we become Pharisaical.
Read MoreJust as we must put off unrighteous anger by being quick to listen and slow to speak, James admonishes that all moral sin be eradicated from our lives. It goes without saying that self-recognition of sinful tendencies and patterns is paramount (which requires great humility), for we cannot fix what we do not recognize as the root issues of sin in our lives.
Read MoreAnger is a prevalent issue for men. Christian counselor, Dr. Gary Rosberg, argues that anger is the predominant emotion men filter their feelings and emotions through. Because men struggle to articulate how they're feeling, anger is the tool of choice to convey how they are feeling even though it may be sadness, frustration, disappointment, etc, that they are actually feeling, not anger.
Read MoreAs much as we struggle with choices on a daily basis, it is beyond comprehension knowing our sins, struggles, insecurities and failures, that without fail, God chose to have a relationship with us. And not just any relationship, but the most intimate relationship we could ever have (more so than with our wives, children, family members or friends).
Read MoreThere is great peace knowing God is full control, sovereign and constant. Those who reject God as creator and eternal judge stake no value in any supreme being for they declare themselves masters of their own fate. And while it is true that due to free-will we choose to accept God for who He is or reject Him, the truth remains for the Christ-follower that God's existence in no way is dependent on man.
Read MoreIt is easy sometimes to blow by a verse of Scripture. It's almost as if the simplicity of truth is so obvious that there is no need to really comment or spend any time reflecting. Verse 16 falls into that category. I almost lumped verses 16-18 together for a devotion but chose to rest on the truth James intended when he stated these 7 powerful words.
Read MoreI've always felt this passage of Scripture was a tough pill to swallow not because I disagreed with it, but that it placed a mirror before my heart. At the core, no man wants to admit he chose to sin. We would rather say we fell into temptation as if we tripped over a bump in the road, or the devil made us do it, or we were provoked and led astray by someone else (thus blame-shifting).
Read MoreOf all the truths found in Scripture that people (in general) struggle to understand, this message from James would be near the top of the list. Many of those who reject the Gospel echo mass mis-confusion around this topic. Their opinions primarily grounded in emotions prove only that who they believe God to be is subject to their experiential construct and not absolute truth.
Read MoreThere is a distinct advantage to the Christian faith, one that surpasses secular thinking altogether. It elevates the priority of Scripture and enables a man to reflect upon the blessing James describes as something tangible and worth seeking after. It is counter-cultural, but that is absolutely what James intended to convey when he penned these words.
Read MoreThere comes a point when a man looks back at his life and takes stock of his mortality. In these moments, he acknowledges the plight he has been dealt by God, whether rich or poor, and reflects upon its advantages and disadvantages.
Read MoreContinuing from verse 5, James admonishes that faith is the prerequisite when asking God for wisdom. Faith is "a settled trust and confidence in God based on His character and promises as revealed in Scripture" (ESV Study Bible). So when we ask God for wisdom but do not fully trust that He can and will answer our request according to His timing and sovereignty, we are unstable in our thinking.
Read MoreThis next section of James 1 continues the theme of our faith being tested in trials with an emphasis on the role of wisdom. To begin, "wisdom, as in the OT, is a God-given and God-centered discernment regarding the practical issues of life" (ESV Study Bible).
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