It’s the little things in life that direct our path. When we may boast of the great things or the big things that we have done or tried to do, it’s the small things that give us our direction. Read James 3:2-5. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! James 3:5 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.3.5.NASB If we’re looking at actual physical size, the tongue is one of the smallest members of the body. Our hands, our feet, our legs all are larger in size than our tongue, yet…

Higher level of accountability. While we know that we are all held to a standard of perfection set by Jesus Christ, those of us in a teaching role have a higher level of accountability for what we do. Read James 3:1. Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. James 3:1 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.3.1.NASB The things that we do impact us, and we know we will be held accountable for our own actions. However, those of us that take on any kind of teaching or instruction role will be held to a higher level accountability. We are responsible for what…

How are we saved? This mystery of the grace of God is one that people are constantly trying to understand better. James has been discussing the importance of acting on the faith that we have, so now he makes an important distinction for salvation. Read James 2:24-26. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 2:24 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.24.NASB Now that verse can seem in contradiction to the idea that our works can’t save us. However, this is actually a key part of the process of salvation. You see, salvation can be thought of in three parts: sanctification, justification, and glorification. Sanctification is the…

Faith + works. It takes both to successfully live out the Christian life. James knew it and he continues to share this truth with us in James 2:20-23. You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; James 2:22 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.22.NASB James now gives examples of people who lived out their faith through their works. Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, had amazing faith in God. He also had amazing actions that demonstrated that faith. Without faith, Abraham wouldn’t have taken the actions he took. Yet, if he would have just said he had faith in God and didn’t…

What do you believe? When talking about faith and works yesterday, James now make this statement about belief today. Read James 2:18-19. You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. James 2:19 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.19.NASB When discussing faith and the fact that if faith doesn’t lead to action then it’s dead, James further illustrates the point by saying that the demons believe that God is God. They have a knowledge of this, but their knowledge doesn’t move them to place their faith in God and then act on it. They know God, and they tremble at that thought, but their knowledge doesn’t move them…

Just do it. Nike’s slogan from years past rang true with people because of the simplicity of the message. If you know what to do, you should do it. James says the same thing. Read James 2:14-17. Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. James 2:17 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.17.NASB If we say we have faith in God, that should mean something in our life. Our life should reflect that faith to others so that it is more than just words that we say. If we truly have faith in God, our actions will be impacted as well. We will be livibg out what we know…

Mercy versus judgment. These are the two choices that we will face when standing before God and they are the two choices that we have when dealing with other people. Read James 2:12-13. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.13.NASB God is ultimately going to judge us. As it mentioned yesterday, if someone failed at just one thing, then they are going to be guilty of the entire law. Still, God has provided a way to show us mercy. Because of that way through Jesus Christ, we have the option to show mercy to others around us.…

Either complete perfection or complete failure. People who think they can be good enough to get to heaven on their own merit need to understand there are only 2 options for them. Either they are completely perfect or a total failure. Read James 2:10-11. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.10.NASB Verse 11 goes on to give an example, but the implication is clear. If you miss in just one area, then you have failed in everything. The idea that God will weigh out the good deeds versus the bad deeds is completely false. This…

Conviction. Most people don’t enjoy feeling conviction, but the problem come when they deny the need to feel convicted. James has been discussing favoritism and partiality and finally lays it out here. If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ” you shall love your neighbor as yourself ,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:8‭-‬9 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8-9.NASB Showing favoritism is sin. There’s no way around that and no excuse for it. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves, but if we show favoritism, then we are breaking…

Who do you align yourself with? Yesterday, James was discussing favoritism and today he continues by describing it in more detail and then asking why people are aligning themselves with people who are not believers. Read James 2:5-7. Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? James 2:7 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.7.NASB Trying to get on people’s good sides, just for what they can give you, is wrong. The people were sacrificing their principles just to gain posessions and material things. As they were trying to gain the favor of these people, they were aligning themselves with people who don’t believe in Christ, and in some cases…