When 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).
Read MoreJames begins this teaching by calling for us believers (the church) to stop, recollect, and literally quantify how faithful the Lord has been in our lives despite the trials we have previously faced. How often do we stop and intentionally remember spiritual markers though?
Read MoreWhen our words are many, the potential opportunity for our moral compass begins to sway away from blessing and more to cursing.
Read MoreThe path of reconciliation to God begins with an acknowledgment of who God is. He is our creator, our judge and our redeemer. He is the Alpha and Omega, the author of life, and only through Him can forgiveness of sin be attained.
Read MoreGod inspired Matthew to pen these verses as a stern reminder and humble warning to all that from the beginning, the birth of Jesus Christ came in opposition to the selfish desires of man, both then and now, and we would be remiss to forget what happened in Bethlehem.
Read MoreMen passionately desire sex with great intensity most often. Therefore, greater warnings are required for men to intentionally guard themselves when it comes to physical lust and desire for sexual satisfaction.
Read MoreIt is imperative that again we recognize that what Jesus addresses in each of these antitheses is NOT a contradiction of what the Old Testament says regarding the issues of anger, lust, divorce, oaths and retaliation. Rather, He is questioning the depth of our understanding, i.e. whether we are content to keep our distance from obvious sins like murder (in this particular study), yet neglect the murderous thoughts we harbor in our hearts and minds toward other people who were created in the image of God himself.
Read MoreRarely does one come across a passage of Scripture from which all other verses in the Bible's entirety hinge upon. In retrospect, the whole of Scripture rests upon the words of Jesus found in this incredible passage. Here we come across the crossroads of Christ's ministry where His purpose and prophesy fulfillment intersect upon the pages of the Old and New Testaments, for our Lord and Savior came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.
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