“James”

Go to James 2:14-19

(Please read the passage before, or after, reading the devotion.)

Reminder: There will be NO daily devotion tomorrow, Sunday. Hopefully most of you will join us through our Live stream Worship and listen to God yourselves. Come with open hearts!

James is not obsessed with the concept of trying to work ourselves into God’s favor and heaven. He truly believed that Jesus was indeed the only way to having a relationship with God (2:1b). And that only by faith in His grace (that undeserved love given without limit or condition) could God transform our lives. But he keeps reminding us of this natural progression: God’s grace -> our faith -> transformed living -> works of love (just as Jesus worked in love) [cf. How Paul says it in Ephesians 2:8-10 and Philippians 2:12b-13] How can we separate faith from its outworking? There is humor and irony in inferring that surely we were better than demons! Demons also believed in the existence of God (a strange kind of “faith”), but their response is terror. In contrast, shouldn’t our faith response to God and His love be one that shows what transformed lives do – actually helping those in dire need, and not being superficially religious?

Loving God, forgive me for the way I separate my relationship with you from the relationship you want me to have with the people of the world. It is so easy to form a “checklist” of what it means to be a follower of Christ, and keep checking each thing off: prayer, bible reading, church worship, charity, giving to the church… But that’s not what you want of me, do you Lord? Because sometimes that seems almost like the demons that live in terror because of the power you yield. I now realize that the reason you transform me is to live like Jesus did, where faith and love (showed in works) are so fused together, they cannot be separated. Just like you and me. Amen.

 “James”

Scripture

Go to James 2:8-13

(Please read the passage before, or after, reading the devotion.)

Prayer:

Oh my goodness! I did not realize that my bias and prejudice toward others meant so much to you, O God of mercy. I did not realize that it reflected the extent of my response to your love, as well as whether I regarded you as Master and King of my life, Lord Jesus. Forgive me, for I have sinned. I truly want to be a “doer” of your Word by being an embodiment of your love. Keep working in me, Lord; please keep challenging me that you might indeed make me “mature and complete, lacking nothing” (1:4). Amen.

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 “James”

Go to James 1:26-27

(Please read the passage before, or after, reading the devotion.)

“Like father, like son” is not usually used as a compliment. Yet in Jesus, that is exactly what happened – “Whoever has seen me (Jesus) has seen the Father” (John 14:19). And that is what God intends for us as His children – “Be perfect…as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Jesus’ death, resurrection, and promise of the Holy Spirit is so that we would be saved (made whole) and adopted (made His children, to be like the Father). James suggests three simple (and obvious) ways to show this. First are our words – not just what we say, but how we say them. Do we reflect who our Heavenly Father is by our words? Second is our compassion – how do we show the Father’s care for the most vulnerable? In those days they were orphans and widows; today the list would include victims of every form of injustice and violence. Third is our holiness – how do we live as if we are in the world, yet not of it (read John 17:15-18)?

You are asking too much of me O God. But are you? You expected no less from your Son Jesus; you intend no less for us your children. Maybe it’s because I only see myself as a human on my way to (hopefully) heaven. And you see me as your growing (and therefore not complete as yet, and fallible) heavenly child placed on earth to represent You. You desire that I reflect you in the simplest ways that You will work through me by Your Holy Spirit in me – words, compassion, holiness (Your distinctiveness in me). Thank you for who you are making me to be. Amen.  Song Lyrics: “Into the Night”

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 “James”

Go to James 1:22-25

(Please read the passage before, or after, reading the devotion.)

Verse 21 ends with “Word…which can save you.” In other words, God’s Word can make you whole…complete. [The Greek word translated as “save” and “salvation” also means “healed,” “made whole.”] So it would be logical that God’s Word in us makes us whole when we obey it; so that is what we would naturally do. But apparently not. There are some that look, listen seriously into God’s Word – and then do nothing with what it speaks about in their lives. The analogy drawn about the person and the mirror is funny – absurd even – and yet true for many. Much like the person who hears but ignores Jesus’ words in his analogy about the one who built his house on the sand; which collapsed in the wind and rain (cf. Matthew 7:24-27). Be hearers and doers. James is simply repeating what Jesus said. Listen intently, then put God’s revelation into practice. The result always changes the doer!

Prayer: Forgive me Lord, I wasn’t listening. You first warned me to talk less and listen more. Now you challenge me to not just listen, but do something about what I hear. And keep doing it! You assure me that contrary to what it seems, my obedience does not imprison me, it will actually free me. Not only will I be doing your will, that’s how you transform me, you make me whole. That’s how I experience the fullness of who you are – your blessing. Help me to be a listener. But not just stop there – help me to be a doer of the Word too. Amen.

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 “James”

(Please read the passage before, or after, reading the devotion.)

Go to James 1:19-21

If God’s intention for us is to grow from new birth to new lives, how does He make that happen? I’m pretty sure that James has Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20) at the back of his mind while writing this. Just as Jesus kept repeating “Let anyone with ears to hear listen,” James calls us to be attentive to God and His Word. This is more than having a regular devotional time, this is having an intentional listening ear! Receptivity to God always has two aspects. The first is preparation – having an attitude that is not defensive, does not pander to selfish passions, turns away from the “weeds and thorns” of our past inclinations. The second is response – humbly allowing God’s Word in us (cf.v.18) to grow in us (and thereby grow us) by our obedience.

Help me to be honest with myself, O Lord. I am so quick to speak, whether to defend myself, or to show I know more, but in so doing I do not listen for your Voice through your Word and your people. I excuse my anger as righteous indignation, forgetting that I am not all that righteous and besides, even You do not hold on to it forever. Forgive me Lord. I will be intentional in listening to you. May Your Word grow in me even as I obey you so that You Lord Jesus may fill my life. Amen.

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“James”

Go to James 1:17-18

Reminder: There will be NO daily devotion tomorrow, Sunday. Hopefully most of you will join us through our Live stream Worship and listen to God yourselves. Come with open hearts!

Prayer

“James”

Go to James 1:12-16

Prayer

 I almost fell away from you Lord, that time when I listened to my own inclinations and instincts. I made all kinds of excuses, but in the end I knew it came down to “Do I love Jesus or myself more?” Thank you for your love, gracious God, because that’s what won the day. All I could think of was “How can I do this and hurt the One who loved me enough to die for me?” I realize now that every temptation is a kind of test – of love – that asks me, “Do you love me, Jesus, more than these?” I do, Lord. Amen.

 “James”

(Please read the passage before, or after, reading the devotion.)

Go to James 1:9-12

Please don’t misunderstand James – he is not saying that it’s a virtue to be poor, nor is he saying that it’s a sin to be rich. There are rich and poor people in the world, even among followers of Christ. That is a reality the Bible recognizes. But what James reminds the person “in humble circumstances” (a person of modest economic means) is that when they know Christ in their lives, they actually have spiritual dignity and wealth that is tantamount to lasting riches (read-Mark 10:21; 2 Corinthians 8:9). On the other hand rich believers should remember that their riches had absolutely no influence on God showing His grace in their lives. In fact God deals with them as if they had nothing; and still gives them grace. That is what they should celebrate – that God blesses us not because of what we are or have – which could vanish in a moment – but because of who He is: a God of Love who gives.

Prayer

You became poor so that I, through your poverty, may become “rich” (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9). How can I ever say that I am poor, if I know you are by my side, Lord Jesus? In fact your Word reminds me how you richly bless me with “every spiritual blessing.” Forgive me when I take my eyes off you and focus on my circumstances, just like Peter took his eyes off you as he walked on water and began sinking! Forgive me too when all is going well and I focus on my blessings, forgetting the Giver. I humble myself before you O gracious Giver – whether it is in plenty, or when I have nothing. It is You I need most of all – you will always be my crown. Amen.

 “James”

Go to James 1:5-8

Ever heard of “growing pains”? It’s true because growing can be painful, even (and especially) if that growing is to make you “mature and complete” as a Christ-follower and child of God. We will need more than our own resources for that growth; we’ll need God’s wisdom to negotiate all that the evil one, the world (the culture around us), and our own (often foolish selfish) human inclinations throws at us. We will need to see things as God sees them, and then respond as He would have us, with insight and faith. And that to me is what Godly wisdom is all about. And James says that all we need to do is ask God for that wisdom. He will “give generously to all,” with no strings attached. That is a promise to claim!

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