-
Christian Devotional – January 18, 2019
Consider it joy. So many people want and seek after joy in their lives. They want to “feel” it and yet often they struggle to define exactly what is meant by it. James doesn’t. He knows exactly how to get joy. Read James 1:2-4. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.2-4.NASB So, joy is a choice. We can choose to have and experience joy. What does joy look like? Well, James gives a formula. Joy…
-
Christian Devotional – December 15, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:19-20–My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. TRUTH: When we see our brothers and sisters in Christ struggling with sin, do we reach out to help them? Are we looking for ways to gently turn them back to God? Or, do we condemn them and cast them aside as unforgiveable and forgotten? God loves the sinner and he desires to see all people turn back to Him…
-
Christian Devotional – December 14, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:17-18–Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. TRUTH: James has just indicated that the prayer of a righteous person is power and effective in the prior verse. Now, he gives an example. Elijah was just a man, like we are. He prayed and his prayers were effective. As we read through the Bible, we see examples of people who are in similar situations that we are…
-
Christian Devotional – December 13, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:16–Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. TRUTH: We must be willing to share with others. We must share our struggles as well as our successes. As we are open and able to walk this life in Christ together, we will be able to pray and lift up one another. We are the most effective in our prayers as we are lifting up and praying for one another. Are we willing to lift up and share with our fellow believers so that we…
-
Christian Devotional – December 12, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:15–And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. TRUTH: Do we pray in faith, believing that what we are praying for will be answered? James reminded them that illness is not always a result of sin, for the scripture uses the word “if” when talking about sin. People can be ill and have sickness and it not be the result or consequence of sin in their lives. Will we trust God completely with all that we our, our health included? That is where the prayer offered…
-
Christian Devotional – December 11, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:14–Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. TRUTH: Sure, it’s easy to share with others when we are physically sick. People can see us having a cold or having to go to the doctor or the hospital. However, when we are emotionally or relationally sick, it’s not always as easy for people to see that. The verse states that if we are sick, we should call the elders and be prayed for and over. Are we willing to share our lives so much…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…