Read: James 1-5
James is always a timely book because we seem to always be going through trials. We will and we should always be in a trial because we walk on the earth and things are not perfect. My husband and I have been in a two and a half year trial that we can’t seem to get through. I thought we had some breakthrough yesterday only to have it dashed to the ground again. It is totally beyond our control and that is the hardest part - we can’t fix it! Only God can. James reminds us to be joyful in our trials and see that it is all part of shaping us into the image of Jesus. God promises to give us wisdom along the way and He will. If we can learn to be grateful for our blessings we can change the way we see everything.
James also says much about our conversation and controlling what comes out of our mouth. We have the power or life and death in there. He also has much to say about how we treat those who are “the least of these”. We should honor everyone with the same degree and reach out to the unlovely and unloveable.
One of James’s most famous quotes is “faith without works is dead, being alone.” You must have both. Abraham was the example because he heard God speak and his faith made him pick up and go to a land he had never been to. If he had waited to know why, he would have never known. Sometimes we just need to move and the “why” will come after we have obeyed.
James begins and ends with encouraging us to have patience. God will perform his promises. Our job is to expectantly wait for it doing what we have been told to do in the waiting. Sometimes that means just praying and sometimes that means helping someone else and daily walking in the spirit. But, in all we do we are to have joy!
Lord, today we choose to put on joy and patience. Open our eyes to the needs of those around us and may we do your will.
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