James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
When things happen in your life, look at them as a way to grow into what God would have you be. Learn from them!
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
God's telling you something. Do you hear Him? He is building you into something more than yourself.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Faith is knowing God provides your every [need]. Waiting patiently shows that Faith in Him.
5 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.
Our Father sent us a letter, The Bible. BE VERY CAREFUL! satan sent a bunch out calling them bibles also. Study and pray for understanding. I can tell you the biggest one satan has put out. Many of you won't like this! It's the niv. Don't believe me? Look up Matthew 18:11 in The KJV first. See if it's an important enough verse for you. Then look it up in the niv. NOT UP FOR DEBATE!
6 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.
Ask God with assurance He will see to it you are answered. Don't think for a second He doesn't hear your every thought.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
If you waver in your believe of God, you will not receive wisdom of what He has said to you in His Word. Faith brings blessings.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
It's God or nothing!
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
It's great to see those that have much less, be so strong in The Lord.
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
If you have more than another you have made them lower in your mind. Keep that spiritual open as to help them rise. Those that think themselves above another = flower, will still die leaving those of lower "class" = the grass, staying. Sooner or later everyone will be on equal ground. The spiritual mind doesn't see classes, but judges in righteousness.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Nothing of the physical things we have will remain in the end. Is your focus on the junk or your soul?
12 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.
Love God? Then you hold true to the morals and laws of God. You don't find evil things tempting. Make satan mad and God happy! Be salt!
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
If you think it's evil coming after you, IT IS! God has no evil for you, only love to build you. How can you know what is evil or good? You STUDY God's Words, not humans.
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
When we put the flesh before the soul, death is what will come. Example; Want to have homo actions? Death is what you're seeking. This goes for theft, getting drunk, worship of the world and other gods to satisfy fleshly wants, etc. Sin is sin! Sin is satan! Sin is death!
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Don't be swayed by those that call evil good. You know better than them. It's going on big time today, stay focused on God! Stay focused on TRUTH! They will use words like, tolerance, love, equality, etc. Don't be fooled. They are evil to the core.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Can you see your blessings? One is when we are given another day to change our ways and seek The Lord. Don't waste it!
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Repent and be the bride for the wedding to come. Christ is at the door and the time of His coming is fast approaching.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
God will take care of those that come against you. Let Him take care of it for you. I'm not talking about not protecting yourself. He gave hands to fight. Read 2 Samuel 22:35 and Psalm 18:34. Psalm 144:1 Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: Some ask me all the time, "I agree but how do you interpret Jesus saying turn the other cheek?" That has nothing to do with protection. They carried swords while walking with Jesus for a reason.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
When we put Gods Word in place of humans, we have a change of mind and actions that will bring life to our souls now and to come.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Calling yourself a Christian doesn't make you a Christian.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a person that walks the path of God as a Christian or a worldly person of self.
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
A hearer and doer of The Word? Then you're on your way.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
We can't look to ourselves for The Way. Christ is The example to follow.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
We must watch our mouths when we go forth in the world.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Christianity is the only reality in this world of religions. Help those in need, spread the love of The Lord.