A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR ALL BELIEVERS.
This Epistle of James is a practical guide for all believers, urging them to live out their faith in practical ways. This emphasises the vital balance between faith and works.
We learn that true faith leads to action and the transformation in our daily lives.
James urges us to demonstrate our faith through the obedience of God’s Word.
This becomes evident in how we treat people.
It’s all about being wise in all areas of life. There are several wisdom speeches in this short book to teach us how to make wise choices before we act. Wisdom is better used this way than learning from our mistakes after the fact.
We choose to live our lives based upon the life of Christ and His teachings.
THE KEY THEME.
- FAITH AND WORKS.
In James 2:17, James stresses,
“FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD”
Non existent!
Your and my faith must be demonstrated by our actions and not just by the words we speak. I meet some very religious people in my Christian walk, but I do not see a heart change!
Where is the fruit of the Spirit such as love, joy and peace? They are carnal and living by the flesh, they do not bear any fruit of the Spirit and the love of God is not spread abroad in their hearts.
Faith without good works is like a corpse, dead and lifeless and unproductive.
Your faith and works should complement each other. You can’t have one without the other.
How do we accomplish this?
We believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Faith in the fact that he paid the price for our sin.
Faith in His unconditional love and forgiveness to cleanse us from all sin.
Faith that we are healed, spiritually, mentally and physically and delivered from all the powers of darkness.
As wonderful as this realisation is, it is insufficient if we do not incorporate good works into our daily walk. They (the unsaved people will know we are Christians by our lives.)
FAITH, A INTEGRAL PART OF OUR DAILY LIVING.
Here, James who I think would have been a very nice person to have as a friend provides practical ways to live our Christian lives.
FACING TEMPTATION.
GOING THROUGH TRIALS.
HOW TO CONTROL THAT DEADLY MEMBER CALLED OUR TONGUE.
HOW TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.
HOW TO OBTAIN THE WISDOM OF GOD.
You and I can have victory over each and every one of these circumstances.
FACING TEMPTATIONS.
Count it all joy!!
This is “Not easy,” as our emotions get in the way.
Don’t you dislike going through difficulties? We all love to rest in the comfort of a life free from difficulties.
Why would dear James say, “Be joyful in the middle of trials and tribulations?”
Because adverse things, stir up your faith. Faith needs to be exercised!
Think of it this way… I am exercising in the Gym of faith, and if I do not get on the treadmill of trial, then my muscles of faith aphotrate: ( waste away and become thinner and unusable.) We could call it weak faith!
Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulations, but be if good cheer!
There it is again, “rejoice” For I have overcome the world.”
You can’t lock yourself away from people and expect to grow in faith; it is not possible.
The unsaved person will try to cope. without Him, by finding comfort in: Food, Alcohol, Sleeping tablets, Antidepressants such as Valium or other drugs, and never looking to Jesus. These drugs may help, but soon they become addictive.
As Christians, we turn to Jesus, our healer and allow Him to lead us to the proper treatment when necessary. Don’t always expect instant results; recovery takes time.
Dear believer when your faith is tested you allow it to stir up God’s power to endure all things… And yes! You can laugh and cry at the same time as you wait on Him to work in you and for you.
Then there is nothing missing or lacking.
Next week we will learn how to obtain Wisdom. So keep reading this book to remind you that James lived what he preached and is now receiving his reward.
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