KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Chapters: Book of James
Message: Enduring The Challenges With Christ
Hello My Friend,
The Book of James contains five chapters, this epistle (letter) was written by James, Jesus’ brother as would be in the flesh, mentioned with Joses, Simon and Judah, and often in the Acts of the apostles. It is known as the general epistle because it was not addressed to a particular church. The purpose of the letter was to comfort believers who were undergoing trials for their faith. What we are to learn from the book is that faith is the foundation of our works, but faith without works is dead. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – James 2:26.
As Christians, we tend to face challenges just because we choose Christ over the worlds religions, but with the challenges comes great rewards, apart from just receiving eternal life, if hold on and endure the ride. I have been struggling greatly for the past few years, and while my behavior has not always been perfect, God’s grace has and always gets me back to doing what I am supposed to be doing. James wrote this letter to the saved Jews who were scattered all over the world who were being tried for their faith, but this applies to all Christians.
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” – James 1:2-7,12.
“For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” Many times when facing challenges we tend to get lax on how we do things, sure we pray, but that prayer is not as effective because our heart really tells the story. I have to say that patience is not one of my strong suits, I hate waiting, especially when I have a lot going on, but when patience does have her perfect work the waiting gets much easier because you are not always focused on what you are dealing with. Quite often the challenges we face have nothing to do with us, but that we might reach someone with the Gospel. Now, James was well aware that we are saved by the grace of God through our belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ, not of our own works. James stresses the importance of knowing that salvation is for all people, not just the Jews, the poor, or rich, but all who believe in Christ.
“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” – James 2:1-5,9-10.
“and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” This is the reason why God replaced the law of Moses with the law of grace, it is impossible for anyone to keep the whole law. Think about it, every one of the key people in the Old Testament, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David did something that would have broken the law, yet God had mercy upon them and still used them to do great things for Him. Religion tells us we need to follow all their rules to be saved, God tells us we are saved by grace through the finished work of His Son. As I started teaching Sunday school again I made a chart for the kids to follow so they can earn points for doing things God wants them to do, I made a point to make sure I am doing the things I ask them to do also. You see, it is easy for us to tell someone how they are to live their lives, but it is not always easy for us to do them ourselves, which is why we not only have to be careful of what we say, we have to make sure we are doing it too.
“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” – James 3:3-6,10,13.
“how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” The tongue, you can hear a million positive comments, but all it takes is one bad one to destroy you. It is a lie when people tell you words do not hurt, they do. I had to do an online interview where I recorded my answers, when you are hearing yourself talk it brings a different perspective on things and you think twice about what you say. We must think about the things we say before we say them, but we also must be living a life that is pleasing to God or it will be easy to let that tongue slip. Part of the reason people lose faith and do not see God working in their lives is that they are living a double life, they want God and also the things of the world. God loves us, but He does not compromise, and will never share us.
“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” – James 4:13-17.
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.” We cannot put off things we are supposed to be doing today for tomorrow, we have no guarantees for tomorrow, all we have is today. Of course, we make plans for the future, and it is good to do so, but we must take care of now. Life is way too short and the one thing no one can escape is death unless Jesus returns before that time. Do what you have to do, stop wasting life waiting for that one thing to happen, live for today, doing the things that God wants you to do, otherwise you will die prematurely. As Christians, we are going to be challenged, we are going to face trials, we are going to suffer heartache and affliction, sometimes of our own doing. Everything we go through tries our faith, and it is usually during the trials that we benefit the most. Why? That is when we seek God more. We have to realize that many of the things we go through are not a punishment, they are to bring us closer to Him as we seek Him.
“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:13-16.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” – James 5:7-8.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy and grace. As much as I try to live by faith and in Your Word, I know I fail sometimes. Lord, I want to please You, I want everything that I do to give glory to You, and I want the world to see Your Son in me. Lead me and guide me, show me the way You want me to go, and let me know of the things that You do not want for me. Give me the strength, patience, and wisdom I need endure the challenges I face with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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