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Christian Devotional – January 24, 2019
Don’t be deceived. This tiny little command, sandwiched between two other topics, stands out. Read James 1:16. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:16 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.16.NASB Now when you look before this verse, you see the discussion about lust and temptation. When you look after it, you read about God being The Giver of all Things Good. And here, it commands us not to be deceived. It’s important to understand that we can be deceived. We’re not automatic lie detectors. We can be taken and we can believe a lie, if we will let ourselves. Our personal lusts and desires can lead us to deceive ourselves as to…
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Christian Devotional – January 23, 2019
Temptation. It’s actually a very personal thing. While there are certainly things that tempt all if us, the degree that we feel the pull to stop following God depends on us. Read James 1:13-15. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. James 1:14 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.14.NASB Let’s be very clear about temptation. God does not tempt us; the Bible makes that very clear. We are tempted by our own lusts and personal desires. This is why temptation is so personal. It is a direct attack on the weaknesses that we have. Satan knows the doubts and the inconsistencies and the internal struggles…
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Christian Devotional – January 22, 2019
Perseverance through trials. It’s certainly not the favorite topic of many people, but it one that James focuses on. Read James 1:12. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.12.NASB God knows that we are going to go through trials and difficulties. We are going to experience situations that are difficult and that will test us. There are rewards for being faithful. James here indicates a Crown of life that God promises as a reward for those people who love him. Love is…
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Christian Devotional – January 21, 2019
What do you Glory in? We all find something that we are excited about and that we feel is important to us. In James, he talks about money this way. Read what he says in James 1:9-11. But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; James 1:9 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.9.NASB It sort of seems backwards that the person who has nothing should consider themselves higher than the person who has lots of riches. However, that’s exactly what James says. The rich person must understand that everything he has will fall way. Nothing will remain eternally except he himself. What are we gaining and how do we…
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Christian Devotional – January 20, 2019
That man. Yesterday, we saw that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should just ask God and He will give it. Yet here, it says that “that man” won’t receive anything. Read James 1:5-8. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, James 1:6-7 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.6-7.NASB Ask in faith. Believe that God is going to do what He says He is going to do. It seens odd. Why would we ask God for something if we didn’t…
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Christian Devotional – January 19, 2019
Do we ask for help with things? Some of us try to go it on our own and keep the fact of our need hidden. We think it makes us look weak to ask for help. James disagrees. Read James 1:5-8. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.5.NASB God has all wisdom. Most of us will agree that He knows more than we do. Yet, how often do we come to Him with our day to day issues? Sure, we ask for help on the “big”…
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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…
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Christian Devotional – January 17, 2019
Greeting. After several months studying Joseph, we’re going to now move to the book of James and walk through the amazing truth found there. James starts off with a greeting. He explains who he is and who he’s addressing. Read James 1:1. James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. James 1:1 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.1.NASB It’s interesting how James describes himself. He is a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. He recognized that is where his identity is. He could have indicated that he was the half-brother of Jesus. For some people, that might have made…
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Christian Devotional – January 16, 2019
Promise fulfilled. In our last look at Joseph, we see that Moses, several chapters and hundreds of years later, followed through on exactly what Joseph had asked of them. Read Exodus 13:18-19. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” Exodus 13:19 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/exo.13.19.NASB Joseph may not have been around to see it, but the God did exactly what He said He would do. As the children of Israel got ready to leave, they also followed through on what they had promised…
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Christian Devotional – January 15, 2019
Forgetfulness. So often the sins in our lives come as a result of “forgetting” what God has done in our lives. The people of Egypt forgot. Read Exodus 1:1-8. Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. Exodus 1:8 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/exo.1.8.NASB Joseph’s legacy lastedca long time. We learn that it was 400 years total that they spent in Egypt. But eventually, the Egyptians lost sight of what Joseph, through the power of God, had done for them. That was when they started to put them into bondage and slavery. When God does amazing things in our lives, how long do we remember and praise Him for…