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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…
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Christian Devotional – November 30, 2015
Read James chapter 5 VERSE: James 5:1–Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. TRUTH: Starting a new chapter now, James is going to move into talking about how people who have trusted in their wealth are experiencing misery. This isn’t usually what we think of when we picture rich people. We must change our perception of what it means to be successful for riches and money aren’t the definition of success. While many people in the world would argue against this, as a believer in Christ, our relationship to Him and showing Him that we love Him daily through our…
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Christian Devotional – November 29, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 417–If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin form them. TRUTH: Often we try to forget about this verse. But there it is, reminding us that if we know the right things to do in a situation, then we are to do them. If we choose not to do those things, then we are sinning. Sin is not just about doing something wrong, it is also about not doing something right. How often do we ignore the gentle promptings of the Spirit each day and fail to reach out and help those around us. What…
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Christian Devotional – November 28, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:16–As it is, you boast in your arrogant scheme. All such boasting is evil. TRUTH: James has been talking about the foolishness of holding to our own plans when we don’t know what the Lord’s will has for us each day. This is the height of our arrogance when we feel that we can make our own plans and assume that everything will work out the way that we plan it. James reminds us that boasting on our own plans is not only the height of arrogance, but it is also evil as well. We Are we trusting in God’s plan for our lives…
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Christian Devotional – November 27, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:15–Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” TRUTH: None of us know what tomorrow will bring. we can make all different kinds of plans and goals and one phone call can change absolutely everything. We must remember that our lives follow according to God’s plan for us and that we can have plans, but they must be in line with God’s plan for our lives and not just our own. Will we seek the Lord’s will and plan for our lives today? RESPONSE: Father, I will serve You and love You today.…
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Christian Devotional – November 26, 2015
For those of you in the United States – Happy Thanksgiving!! Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:13–Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. TRUTH: No matter whether we are a planner or not, we all have a tendency to look forward and have some idea of what we intend to have happen. However, as scripture here says, we can’t even predict what will happen tomorrow. Our life, for all that we try to think of it as, is simply a mist and a vapor that will be here for just…