27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.-------------
I love James! He makes so many great points even in the first chapter. I chose this verse because it is the verse that I am using for my support letters that I have sent out/am sending out for the Mission Trip to Ukraine this summer. We are going to raise support for 10 different orphanages in Ukraine and will be sharing our love with the orphans that we meet! I am really excited about it and am so thankful that I can serve the Lord through this mission! It's crazy to see here that true religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for others who may not be as privileged as I am...I pray that God continues to give me a heart for others and that I may walk in His will and in His love...so that I may be a reflection of His light to the world in need!
22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
ReplyDeleteBAM! That is what I am talking about! So many times we go to church on Sunday or read the Bible and then forget about it in five minutes. We don't live by what we teach and learn. So this verse lays it out perfect. Don't just read it, DO IT!!! I want all of us to take this blog seriously and 1. If you take a challenge actually do it everyday (or if you take a break come back to it) and 2. Learn from what you read everyday. Don't just read and talk about a verse and forget about it. Become a better person for the Lord therefore bringing glory to His name. I love you guys.
19-20 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
ReplyDeleteThis verse is often quoted, but rarely applied, which is a tragedy because there is a lot of wisdom in it. As Christians, we are called to love one another and to support one another, sharing burdens when required. Thus, this verse should be one of the central verses in our lives as a guideline on how to interact with our brothers and sister in Christ. I picked this verse because I feel that it's one that our fraternity needs to meditate on due to recent circumstances.
-DA
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
ReplyDeleteDo we really take seriously the incredible promises of God? When I read a verse like this, I immediately question myself as to whether or not I believe that it is 100 percent true. God is good. He is the ultimate source of good. So often we doubt God, question God, are disappointed with God for something in our life. When in reality we should know that God is working things for the good of His children. Even trials as the beginning of chapter 1 say produced steadfastness.
We can trust God with our lives for He is good!
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that I've been thinking about more recently. There is a huge difference between knowing something and believing the same thing. Look at Peter. When Jesus called him out of the boat to walk on water he truly believed, at first, and he walked on water. Only when he let his doubts get to him did he start to sink. Jesus tells the disciples that if they tell a mountain to move and believe that it will it will happen (Mark 11:23).