At times when a verse is singled out by itself, the translation can be lost because the overall context is missing. However, after reflecting on the need for a Biblical foundation of faith in verses 13-14, James now completes his thought and offers comfort and encouragement to those who not only pray to God in times of need, but believe He is mighty and able to answer their prayers.
Read MoreUndoubtedly, there are moments in our lives when we experience trials and triumphs. We transition through various seasons of life in which our faith (or lack thereof) is tested to varying degrees through hardship and prosperity. It is in those moments when temptation looms dangerously close to our hearts with questions that flood our minds.
Read MoreJames 5:12 is perhaps one of the more peculiar Scripture passages James wrote because of its placement within chapter 5 of his letter. It falls between sectional headings of "patience in suffering" and "the prayer of faith" which should help discern its meaning, yet on the surface it doesn't seem to fit. One could propose that it bridges these two paragraphs, maintaining a pattern of consistency and flow of thought from James to his readers.
Read MoreThere are many in this world who argue that the Bible is archaic, culturally irrelevant, full of inaccuracies and contradictions, and simply a collection of fables and stories composed by mortal men. They cling to the argument that the Bible is full of errors regarding such events as creation and the flood, revolt at the thought it is inerrant and the inspired word of God, and argue emphatically that archaeology and science contradict its claims.
Read MoreFrustration comes to us all at times. When life appears to have dealt us a lousy hand, we tend to compare our lives with others and covet their prosperity. When calamity strikes with pain and suffering, we question God's sovereignty and whether He truly loves us. When persecution strikes a heavy blow against our psyche for defending God's Word, we begin to calculate whether silence is a better option than speaking truth in love.
Read More"Patience is a virtue," is a common expression used today. It carries with it a sentiment of calm in the midst of pain, suffering and/or injustice. Patience perseveres while not being succumbed to anger or revenge. It is "the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.
Read MoreThe topic of wealth in Scripture is frequently referenced in context of money and materialism through man's selfishness, covetousness, jealousy and envy. It is emphasized as a battle between good and evil, where our desire for comfort is magnified by how willing we are to give freely of our bountiful resources.
Read MoreFear is paralyzing the church of Jesus Christ: Fear of the Spirit's conviction, fear of having to change, fear of persecution, fear of submission, fear of surrendering our will to God, fear of owning our sins, fear of confessing our sins to others, fear of losing control, etc.
Read MoreThese verses continue James' admonition to the church that boasting about tomorrow is not only futile, but presumptuous and arrogant in the sight of God. We are not deities. We do not have the power to see the future with absolute certainty. It is only because of God that what we do know comes from the pages of Scripture, which illuminates our minds to His supreme sovereignty and majesty.
Read MoreIt is easy at times to fall into a habit of presumption. We presume we know more than we do. We presume we can predict the future. We presume to know what others are thinking. We presume to think we have some semblance of control in our lives. While there may be a degree of truth to each of these statements, the overlying point James makes is that we cannot arrogantly presume to know anything apart from the providential control of God Almighty.
Read More"Don't judge me!" is a popular phrase in our culture today. Used often in self-defense, it warns us who are casting judgment or misinterpreted as appearing to be, that we are to cease and desist immediately. The role of judge is not ours, therefore who are we to judge others? We are just as sinful as those we fairly or unjustly accuse as guilty before God, are we not?
Read MoreThere are no greater issues we wrestle with on a daily basis than pride and humility. Both themes are interwoven throughout Scripture both in theory and experiential examples. They represent perhaps man's greatest manifestation of sin (pride) and the character quality that most aligns our will with the Father (humility).
Read MoreContinuing his theme, James gives a direct command to the church concerning worldliness that might appear peculiar at first glance. Keep in mind, James is making this statement after reiterating that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble and contrite of heart.
Read MoreThe beauty of the Bible is found in its simplicity. Many find themselves burdened by the enormity of Scripture because of its verbiage and content, both in quality and quantity. They fail to recognize that if filtered down, the Gospel is not complicated but quite logical. It is the manifestation of Jesus Christ (John 1:1), and in Him we find law and liberty, love and salvation.
Read MoreAs we have studied previously, submission is topic that is primarily associated with a woman's role in the context of Biblical marriage. In many ways, submission has rose to the surface of western civilization as one of the most controversial and debatable topics within the church and surrounding culture.
Read MoreIn the first five verses of chapter 4, James presents a strong argument concerning the propensity of our flesh toward worldly passions and selfish ambitions. He cites these as causes for fights and quarrels within the church in that we are consumed by our fleshly desires to the point where no intervention is profitable for resolution apart from God.
Read MoreThis verse concludes the previous thought (verse 4) James makes that whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. He questions the church with a blunt, "Do you not know?" to drive home a spiritual truth concerning our naivety toward the flesh and spirit war we face.
Read MoreThe line of distinction between flesh and spirit is at times difficult to comprehend both in our personal lives and in how we interact with other Christians and non-believers. James understood this dilemma though, which is why he so vehemently called out the hypocrisy he saw all around him.
Read MoreOne of the greatest mysteries of life surrounds the intentions of the heart. They are difficult to discern externally because they are a spiritual issue in purest form, and one that shapes the trajectory of our lives far more than we realize. Our intentions reveal a deeper discussion of spiritual identity and to whom we serve: God or self.
Read MoreThere is an interesting dynamic between wants and needs. Wants convey desires that originate in the flesh with an insatiable appetite for more. Needs are constituted by those things essential for survival. It is common for all of us to shift wants into the category of needs.
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