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Christian Devotional – December 10, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:13–Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. TRUTH: God created us to feel and experience emotions. We are going to be happy at times. We are going to be sad or hurt at times. We need to follow James’ advice here and allow ourselves to experience the emotions while leaning on God to bring us through both the difficult times and the great times. God is there with us through them all and as we are experiencing these different situation and different emotions, we can come to Him with all of them. Are…
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Christian Devotional – December 9, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:12–Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear–not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. TRUTH: Do we mean what we say? At the very essence of this verse, that is what it is asking us. Are we people of integrity who mean what we say? If we are, then we won’t need to swear to make people believe us and we won’t need to do anything else in order for people to believe us. The very fact that we said it and that we…
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Christian Devotional – December 8, 2015
Pre-orders for Piecing Together Forgiveness are now available! The e-book can be pre-ordered from Amazon here and the paperback is available for pre-order from my website here. Have you gotten your copy yet? Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:11–As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen that the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. TRUTH: Often, people talk about the patience of Job, but actually, it’s his perseverance that is the main thing to talk about. He wasn’t really very patient. He wanted answers from God and he wanted them yesterday!…
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Christian Devotional – December 7, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:10–Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. TRUTH: James has been speaking about not rumbling and being patient. Then, James gives them a very real example of what it means to suffer. all of the readers would have been familiar with the stories about how the prophets in the Old Testament were treated. They endured harsh persecution at the hands of many people for sharing God’s Word. James reminded the people that even in the face of the persecution, the prophets were patient and continued to share…
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Christian Devotional – December 6, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:9–Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! TRUTH: All our arguing and fussing against one another doesn’t go unnoticed. As we complain and argue against others, God hears us and sees our attitude toward them. What will be His response toward us? If we are spending our time grumbling against each other, God, who is the ultimate Judge, will be the one to see and hold us accountable by the same standard that we are holding others accountable. RESPONSE: Father, I know I have not always had the right attitude toward…
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Christian Devotional – December 5, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:7-8–Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. TRUTH: The Lord has promised His return someone day. He also indicated that no one would know the day or the hour when that will happen. Yet, we are to be watchful and looking forward to that day. Sometimes, when difficult and hard things happen, it can be easy to say, “Come on Lord! Let’s just go home now!” Yet,…
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Christian Devotional – December 4, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:6–You have condemned and murdered the innocent one who was not opposing you. TRUTH: As James finishes his section condemning the rich people who were oppressing others, he reminds the people that this is what they have been doing. When people have money, they often have power as well and frequently they will use those things as a way to impose their will on others around them. In this case, the people were doling out unjust judgments to the poor. Whether we are rich or not, we each have a measure of power and authority that we have in relation to someone or something.…
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Christian Devotional – December 3, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:5–You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. TRUTH: As James continues to speak against hoarding wealth and oppressing the poor, he now explains how those people who do this are completely unaware of the destruction that is coming upon them. They are like livestock that are simply hoarding up as much as they can on their way to the slaughter. Are we focused on self-indulgence or are we focusing on others around us? RESPONSE: Father, Keep me focused on You today and not just being self-indulgent and prideful. I want my actions and…
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Christian Devotional – December 2, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:4–Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. TRUTH: God sees the way that we treat others. In fact, when we mistreat other people, the very way in which we mistreat them calls out the God to testify against us. This was the same thing that God told Cain after Cain killed Abel in Genesis chapter 4. Our deeds are going to testify about us to the Father. What are they going to say to Him? Do we treat others fairly…
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Christian Devotional – December 1, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:2-3–Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. You gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. TRUTH: Why is it that the people’s wealth will come back to testify against them? They hoarded their wealth and were not generous and giving with it. If we trust in our wealth, our wealth will corrode and testify against us. How are we using the things that God has blessed us with? They are simply for us to be stewards over as we seek to follow His…