– Scripture:

Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person in perfect control of life. A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything or destroy it!

                              James 3:1–5 MSG

– Reflection:

               When You Open Your Mouth

The importance of our speech is emphasized in the wisdom about the power of the tongue. Our words reflect what is in our hearts, so it’s crucial to confront and correct any expressions of anger, doubt, trickery, or immorality promptly. Because our speech should reflect God, we need His help to ensure that our words are righteous, loving, controlled, and full of grace and mercy.

Where do we go from here?

“Do you struggle with your speech? What are your speaking habits or speech patterns that require God’s help to refine and transform? Our speech reflects our knowledge and wisdom. Just as our attitudes and behaviors, our speech must also be submitted to God for transformation.”

Our Prayer for Today

Father, we thank You for the power of Your Word. Please help us to use Your Word as a guide for our speech. Give us wisdom, discernment, and self-control when it comes to the words that we speak. Let our words be refreshing, gracious, and always reflect You well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

– Scripture:

My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?  Listen, dear friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn’t it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren’t they the ones who scorn the new name—“Christian”—used in your baptisms? You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can’t pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period. Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

                             James 2:1–13 (MSG): 

– Reflection:

               The Royal Rule of Love

God has chosen the most meak people in history to tell his story. We do our best work when we complete the royal rule of love, which says we are to love one another as we love ourselves. The times when we go against this train of thought are where most of our problems come into play. Working in care/love gives us the complete direction for what is expected of us. Placing a person or goal in front of the work imprinted on our hearts from birth slaps GOD in the face and says that what we want is more important than what we were created for.

Where do we go from here?

Start small. I have said it several times before: Trying to take on a large project in the beginning will not work. Your focus and heart will not be in it for the duration of the work. Honoring the work must be done at all times, even when you don’t feel as if you are making any headway. So here is what I did first: I am a part of a men’s chat group, and we do a lot of different tasks at the church. We help people move, paint bedrooms, build fences, or, in my case, pray for someone. For me, this was significant, and I took it as seriously as I should have. Even today, when someone in the group asks for prayer, I step up and send one to them – not a prying hands emoji, but an actual prayer. Find your lane and start to own your place.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, we thank you for the influence you have given each of us. Please allow us to honor you faithfully and continue the work that each of us has within us. Amen.

– Scripture:

‘Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? ‘

                                James 2:14 MSG

– Reflection:

                Faith In Action

Living in obedience to God as a result of our faith is a key indicator of real salvation. A faith without transformation recognizes biblical teachings but does not reflect those teachings in one’s life. The way a believer lives their life is a reflection of their genuine faith.

Where do we go from here?

“Our works do not make us righteous before God; only Jesus does. However, after one has been saved, they become a new creation with a new purpose, new power, and a new Lord. A believer’s actions and behavior after salvation should reflect the spiritual change on the inside. The Holy Spirit works powerfully within the believer to transform a self-focused life into an others-focused life that brings glory to Jesus. What message does your life convey about the gospel?”

Our Prayer for Today

Father, please help us commit to following You and living out the gospel practically. Cleanse and transform our hearts, and make us willing to love and serve others genuinely. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

– Scripture:

‘You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can’t pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period. Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.’

                            James 2:8-13 MSG

– Reflection:

              Actions of Sacrifice

In the Bible, James challenges believers with the command to love their neighbors as they love themselves. Believers are instructed to love God with all their being and possessions. Only then are we able to prioritize the needs of our neighbors over our own. It’s easy to make sacrifices for family, but what about making sacrifices for a stranger or someone who is not well-liked? Doing great things for anyone in need truly is a sacrifice. Jesus did this for all of us and asked for nothing in return. Truly amazing.

Where do we go from here?

What do our attitude and actions of sacrifice and giving reveal to others about Jesus? Sacrificial giving of our money, time, love, talents, and gifts to others shows that we trust the Lord to provide, supply, and replenish all of those things in our lives. It demonstrates that He truly is the center of our hearts.

Our Prayer for Today

Father God, You are our generous Provider who selflessly pours into our lives. Father, teach us to be generous, to give without counting the cost, and to sacrifice without seeking recognition or reward. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

– Scripture:

 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

‭‭.                             James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭MSG‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/97/jas.1.19-21.MSG

– Reflection:

                 Gifted with God’s Goodness

Because believers have been gifted with God’s goodness and righteousness, we have a responsibility to control our speech, our attitude, and our behavior. Every word we speak and every action we take first begins in our hearts. When faced with the temptation to pour out our feelings and emotions in anger or unrighteousness, believers must quiet our hearts, slow down, and listen to God concerning what He would have us say and do.  

Where do we go from here?

In what circumstance are you being led by your emotions, your temper, and your attitude? Believers must seek God’s power to surrender our agenda and our self-centered desires in exchange for His humility, His compassion, and His mercy towards others.  

Our Prayer for Today. 

Father God, increase Your love in me. Lord, help my words and actions express the goodness, kindness, and mercy of Your heart. Lord, prevent me from being swept away in negative emotions and attitudes. Help me to humbly lay aside any wicked or inappropriate thoughts or attitudes. Lord, help me to honor You in all that I say and do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.