-
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…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
Christian Devotional – November 25, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:13–Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” TRUTH: Are you a planner? I know I am. I love to work out the details of how ideas get done. However, God knows that I can get a little carried away sometimes and this verse starts a section of verses made directly for the planner. Many of us will often create elaborate plans detailing every little aspect of our life and we forget that we are ultimately not the one in control of our lives. God is.…
-
Christian Devotional – November 24, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:12–There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you–who are you to judge your neighbors? TRUTH: God created all things, so therefore, He is the only one who is able to judge all things. He made a way to save those who have accepted His gift of forgiveness and He will be the one to judge people. We are to simply hold to the truth that God has given us and to be focused on promoting that truth everywhere. We must realize that leading others to the truth is not judging them, but is leading…
-
Christian Devotional – November 23, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:11–Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. TRUTH: We’ve just been talking about the importance of humbling ourselves before the Lord. If we are truly humble, then we will be humbling ourselves before our fellow Christians as well. We are no better than any other Christian and we must remember that God loves all of us. How are we speaking about other people in our church? What words do…
-
Christian Devotional – November 21, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:10–Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. TRUTH: Another statement that seems so contrary to the way we think. Go lower to go higher. However, God looks at our hearts. As we submit ourselves to Him and seek to honor Him, He will raise us up and trust us with greater and greater responsibility. At the end of the day, the truth comes down to this: if you want to get ahead, you must first come behind. Stop exalting yourself. Leave the exaltation up to God; He’s much better at it and His exaltation lasts much longer. RESPONSE: Father, I…
-
Christian Devotional – November 21, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:9–Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. TRUTH: This sounds so contrary to what we typically hear people say. In this case, with the context of the verses before it, we need to get rid of the sin in our life. Often, we become prideful and find joy and laughter at the expense of others. We begin to feel that we are improving if we are stepping on others. Instead of feeling built up by this, we should be grieved by how we are treating others. As we seek to come and draw near to God, these…
-
Christian Devotional – November 20, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:8–Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded. TRUTH: As we come into a relationship and fellowship with God, He will come near to us. How do we draw near to Him? That is answered in the remaining part of the verse. First, we need to examine our actions (wash our hands) and ask for forgiveness for those actions that do not line up with God. Second, we must purify our attitudes (our hearts). The motivations for why we do what we do is just as important to God as…
-
Christian Devotional – November 19, 2015
Read James chapter 4 VERSE: James 4:7–Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. TRUTH: Submit and resist: two things that are very hard for us to do. We don’t want to think about submitting ourselves to anyone or anything, and yet if we are honest, we know that god knows more than we do and is in control when we aren’t. We are in much better hands if we will submit to Him and His will for us. Resisting the devil can also be very difficult when he tempts us with all the things that we think will bring us happiness because we…