Quest:) -
I love the book of James. SO happy that we are all reading it! I'll tell you what I think about James 2.
James 2:1- "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." Pretty much this verse says to share your faith with EVERYONE. Not just a certain group of people. In verse 9 it says, "but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." Partiality is a sin. God put us on the earth to be used as tools to spread His word, so just share it with everyone!
James 2:5- "Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love him?" My Bible has a little note about this verse. It says that we spend too much time in our lives building a kingdom on earth, when we have a kingdom up in heaven that is so much better and that we can have forever! So if we just love God and have faith in God we can have that kingdom.
James 2:17- "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." This verse says that with your faith in God, you must work also. In verse 15, it talks about how if you have someone in need, and you just tell them what they need, it does not help them. You must work to help them.
James 2:21-22- "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?" Background on this: Abraham had a son named Isaac. God tested Abraham's appreciation to Him by asking Abraham to kill Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham didn't hesitate to kill Isaac, because his faith in the Lord was so strong. But right before he killed Isaac, the Lord stopped him and gave him a ram to sacrifice instead. See, Abraham's faith worked with his works and ended up not killing his son.
Guys, I want to challenge you all. Like it says in James 2:1, do not show partiality. Share your faith in God at school, at home, wherever. Because we all really don't realize how much it can change someone by sharing our stories and our faith. Let God use you as a tool to share His word.
Praying for y'all!
Allie
thanks for that allie (: i've been trying so hard not to show partiality anymore and to share my faith with EVERYONE. it's been pretty challenging, but i'm a lot better at it now. the other day my friend asked me about my key that i always wear around my neck, and i told her the story. and you know what's amazing?! she said SHE was going to start wearing one too...and i didn't even know she was religious! at all. and my other friend has become SO much closer to God ever since i've been sharing what i've learned at sky ranch with her. it's AMAZING how much control we have in the spreading of God's word!
ReplyDeleteHaley- That's amazing. So awesome that you are sharing that with the people you know. I have started talking to a few of my friends about God too, and they are just so much closer to Him now. It's just great!
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