James!

mmm, the book of James is finally here! I used to be bitter towards James, because I thought it was proclaiming the notion that works were most important, and thought that James was a very works-oriented dude, until I realized that that was not the case.....it's more so that faith in Christ alone is our salvation, but faith without works is dead, and that if we are followers and believers in our almighty King, then we should desire to please Him and do His works...

my bible says that James was "written to Jewish Christians to remind them that faith, if it is real faith, leads to faithful living. We are to show our faith in the little acts of daily living. Church tradition says the book was written by James, the Lord's brother."

James: A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus's brother.
Written to: The 12 tribes in the Dispersion.

there is SO MUCH in this first chapter, but I will touch on a few amazing points:

Verse 2: "...whenever you face trials of ANY KIND, consider it nothing but JOY, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."

I'm sure several of you have heard this verse before, but think about it...it relates to Acts 7, when the apostles considered it pure joy that they were flogged by the high priests and found it joy and honor to suffer for the sake of the name. No matter what trial we face, we have to consider it joy...because God is producing endurance within us and is allowing us to mature and become complete in our humanity and in the creation He has set us out to become. Without these trials or hardships in our lives, we cannot allow His plans for us as His set creation to come full circle. "Mature and complete, lacking in nothing." When we pass one day and finally see Him face to face, we will be COMPLETE because of the things we have faced on earth!

Verse 13: "No one, when tempted, should say, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved."

GOD does not tempt us or cause us to sin, nor does He put sin in front of our faces and see what we do...it is by our own desires, desires implanted by Satan or this world, and when we face it and give into it, it becomes sin. The wages of sin=death...we must not be deceived thinking that it is God doing this to us, but it is our own sinful flesh and nature. Read Cameron's post in early August/maybe even July, about Hell and what it really is...this makes me think of that.

Verse 22: "But be DOERS of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves."

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.....but we must not only hear, but DO, and make the word become flesh, make the word become active and living through our own lives. We cannot let it pass through one ear and out the other, but allow it to settle and be engraved on our hearts, so that we can use it in times of trouble or need, allow it to be our strength and shield...

I'm excited for James...I can't wait to see what is to come...allow yourselves to dive into this stuff! Don't shy away from it or become complacent, but allow it to really speak to you and see what God is saying.