Listen Carefully, Then Do It “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 As part of a class exercise, the other participants and I held mirrors to our faces and stared at our reflections for what seemed to be a long time. Something the leader had said put me on the …
James 1:9-11
Equal under Grace Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low James 1:9–10 Feelings of superiority that foster unjust discrimination aren’t a modern-day phenomenon. The first-century church had the same problem. When James refers to the person of “low degree” in verse nine, he’s talking about those …
James 1:5-8
God’s Generous Gift If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 “I feel so stupid. I should know what to do, but I don’t.” Ever said these words or something like them? The older I get, the more I say them. …
James 1:2-4
Credit or Debit? We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3–4 I stood, rolled my shoulders a few times, then stretched my neck from side to side. The stress of teaching new courses and the strain of a tight budget knotted the muscles in my upper body. I …
Book of James
Introduction “What would Jesus do” became a popular slogan among Christians during the 1990s, but the slogan can be traced back to Charles Sheldon, a nineteenth-century minister. He often posed real-life scenarios to his congregation and ended with the question, “What would Jesus do?” Eventually, Sheldon turned his sermons into a book titled In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?, …
Jeremiah Acted in Faith
Can the Worthless Become Valuable? The Lord says, “As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them… I will restore them.” Jeremiah 32:42,44 Suppose a relative came to you and said, “Will you help me out by buying some land I own? The land’s under water …
Jeremiah Prophesied a New Covenant
Law Written on Hearts For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33 ESV Israel failed to keep the covenant …
Jeremiah Delivered Hope
The Righteous Branch God declared, “The days are coming … when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land …. He will be called the LORD our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:5-6 The mighty royal line of David had been cut down. Jehoiachin reigned only …
Jeremiah Saw the Nation’s Sins
A Marred Clay Pot “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.” Jeremiah 18:6 The Lord told Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house where he’d receive a message. As Jeremiah watched, he saw the pot was marred. The …
Jeremiah Spoke the Truth
The Ruined Garment This is what the Lord says …“This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this waistcloth, which is good for nothing.” Jeremiah 13:9-10 (RSV) If anyone had seen Jeremiah stuff a new linen waistcloth[1] in …