James is such a good book. It's just...so...good! A friend and I are taking this book and thoroughly going through it verse by verse while stopping to talk about and look deeper into every detail. So, tonight I started my journey through James and spent about an hour on the first 18 verses...
...longer than I thought.
But my eyes were opened to so much more when I actually sat down, read each verse, and wrote what they meant to me. Here's some of what I came up with:
v. 2 & 3 - When we come into hard times, we can ultimately be joyful, because with that test, our faith can become so much greater and we will grow in the Lord through enduring our hardships. It will develop perseverance which helps to develop spiritual maturity.
perseverance - (n.) steady persistance in the face of difficulties...
...difficulties such as temptation, fear, grief, anxiety, worry and persecution - all big parts of this world.
If we persevere towards God, ("don't give up" - Gal. 6:9), we will "receive the crown of life that God has promised" (v. 12) once we have "stood the test" (NIV) and "patiently endured...temptation" (NLT).
v. 5 - All we have to do is ask God for wisdom, earnestly seeking it, and He will grant us with it. If we ask for spiritual gifts - and mean it - He is so generous and will give it to us. But, we have to genuinely believe it will be granted to us, or He won't give it. We must have "faith in God alone" (NLT) - complete and total dependency and trust.
James even says don't even think your request will be granted if you doubt at all, for you are unstable and do not know what you want.
vs. 9-11 - Humility is what is honored by God. Riches will fade away and people will fade with them.
James...my dawg...why did you just talk all about trials and asking God for wisdom with those, and then throw in some random talk about humility?
What better way to answer this question than to ask the daddy/preacher-man himself?
Here's Cliff's take:
Connection: v. 2-11 - We will face trials and we will have to come to God for wisdom and strength. But when we do, we must come with humility, realizing we are utterly dependent on God and Him alone, or nothing will be granted to us, for we don't deserve it, due to our pride developing doubt that drives us to fade away.
Makes sense to me!
And the hope for those fading people is...
v. 12 - The one who has stood the test, persevered under trial, with God's help, will receive eternal life, because they truly love (are dependent upon and completely trust) Him.
And that is some good news if you ask me. But the goodness doesn't stop there!
v. 13-14 - God does not tempt us. Any sin we fall into is not a trial - there's a difference. (Common misconception, I've found.) Sin comes from our own selfish desires. They "drag us away." Desires lead to sin and sin leads to eternal death.
v. 16 - So watch out!
That's not the good part. Promise.
v. 17 - Only good and perfection come from our heavenly Father - never temptation. Trials will come because there is sin and corruption in this world.
God brings you through it - He doesn't put you in it!
Why would He do that when only goodness and perfection come from above? Not only why - how? Not possible. He is waiting for you to humbly and earnestly ask Him for help.
(Did I mention I love this book?)
v. 18 - We are God's "prized possession" (NLT). We are the "first fruits of all He created." So, "how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matt. 7:11)
That really brought it home for me. God's always there for you. You just have to put yourself aside and let Him in.
You do that, and everything else will fall into place.
Do as I say, not as I do. :)
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
My Prayer
God, I am so blessed, yet so very undeserving. I am literally blown away every day by all that you do for me. I am so rich! I really am! Monetarily, with everything I have, my family and friends...it's seriously unreal.
You amaze me. I crave you, Lord. I want to see you working in every second of my life. Please make me observant and able to see you. Thank you for bringing me through any hardships lately. Thank you for not putting me through any situation I can't handle! I know that if I put you first, everything else will fall into place.
You will never let me down; you will never let me go.
Your mercy is unreal, Father. I can't and won't ever understand.
Your grace is enough.
It's all I need.
God, I want to share you. I want everyone to know! Yes, I want Christians to see you through me, but I especially want to have an impact for you on non-believers. Use me in that way, Lord. Give me the wisdom to know what to say in those moments.
Use me.
I love you, Lord. I crave to be in your Presence.
Rule my life. Reign in me.
I can do your will here on earth. I know what I'm called to do, just show me how, where and when.
Thank you for loving me.
You amaze me. I crave you, Lord. I want to see you working in every second of my life. Please make me observant and able to see you. Thank you for bringing me through any hardships lately. Thank you for not putting me through any situation I can't handle! I know that if I put you first, everything else will fall into place.
You will never let me down; you will never let me go.
Your mercy is unreal, Father. I can't and won't ever understand.
Your grace is enough.
It's all I need.
God, I want to share you. I want everyone to know! Yes, I want Christians to see you through me, but I especially want to have an impact for you on non-believers. Use me in that way, Lord. Give me the wisdom to know what to say in those moments.
Use me.
I love you, Lord. I crave to be in your Presence.
Rule my life. Reign in me.
I can do your will here on earth. I know what I'm called to do, just show me how, where and when.
Thank you for loving me.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Night Light
My entire life I have been privileged to attend a private Christian school. It took me 12 years to really realize that much of who and how I am today has been shaped by this school. I don't know where or how I would be if I had gone to the public school I am "zoned" for.
Yet, in all of this goodness I've experienced and grown up in, Satan is there - prevalently working within these walls. Just like at a public school where prayer and worship aren't allowed, kids here have never even come close to experiencing God's love, grace, and mercy.
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul encourages the church there to "not preach [them]selves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" to unbelievers. He tells them "our gospel. . .is veiled to those who are perishing." Verse 4 states "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." Satan swallows the weak in spirit in his darkness so that they cannot become aware of any hope they have. But our God eliminates this darkness. He shatters all fears and doubts with His never-ending love and faithfulness.
My friend, Mallory today in chapel mentioned that it is scary to walk down these halls looking at fellow students and know that you won't be seeing a lot of these people in heaven. Close friends, even! How scary is that?? We can't just go on letting them live their lives without knowing the awesome power of our God. We are called as God's children to share the good news with others around us. Never underestimate your ability to be a light. Ask God for the strength to stand up for Him and be a shining light in this dark world.
Yet, in all of this goodness I've experienced and grown up in, Satan is there - prevalently working within these walls. Just like at a public school where prayer and worship aren't allowed, kids here have never even come close to experiencing God's love, grace, and mercy.
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul encourages the church there to "not preach [them]selves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" to unbelievers. He tells them "our gospel. . .is veiled to those who are perishing." Verse 4 states "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." Satan swallows the weak in spirit in his darkness so that they cannot become aware of any hope they have. But our God eliminates this darkness. He shatters all fears and doubts with His never-ending love and faithfulness.
My friend, Mallory today in chapel mentioned that it is scary to walk down these halls looking at fellow students and know that you won't be seeing a lot of these people in heaven. Close friends, even! How scary is that?? We can't just go on letting them live their lives without knowing the awesome power of our God. We are called as God's children to share the good news with others around us. Never underestimate your ability to be a light. Ask God for the strength to stand up for Him and be a shining light in this dark world.
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