July 15th, 2022
Read: James 1:26 NRSVIf any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. What good is our faith if it does not lead to action? As protestants, we acknowledge that our salvation is a work of grace by faith, all gifts from God. We do […]
July 14th, 2022
Read: James 1:25 NRSVBut those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. It’s easy to talk about all of the hardship in the world from a position of comfort. Hunger, poverty, human trafficking, murder…there is […]
July 13th, 2022
Read: James 1:23-24 NRSVFor if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. Sometimes my wife will send me upstairs to fetch something and I’ll come back a […]
July 12th, 2022
Read: James 1:22 NRSVBut be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. So if we recognize that the American doctrine and Christian doctrine are not interchangeable, how do we go about untangling our faith from our nationalism? We must learn to do more than hear the word, we must truly listen […]
July 11th, 2022
Read: James 1:21 NRSVTherefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. Meek. Submissive. Obedient. The American and Christian doctrines are most at odds with these character traits. Christ calls us to submit ourselves to him, to obey […]
July 10th, 2022
James 1:19-20 NRSVYou must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. “Your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” If you grew up in an American home and attended public school during the week and Sunday school on the […]
July 9th, 2022
Read James 1:16-18“Don’t be deceived, dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” […]
July 8th, 2022
Read James 1:13-15 NIV “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when its full-grown, gives birth […]
July 7th, 2022
Read James 1:12 NIV “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those that love him.” What is the “crown of life” that James is talking about? According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word used […]
July 6th, 2022
Read James 1:9-11 NIV “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they will pass away like a wildflower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the […]
