Beyond the Gospels: James

Today's Scripture: James 5:13-20
[Click the Scripture reference above to read online.]

Pray. Pray. Pray.
Pray when you're in trouble.
Pray songs of praise when you're happy.
Ask others to pray for you when you're sick.
Confess your sins, one to another, and pray for healing.
Pray. Pray. Pray.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well...

James 5:15

The Greek translated as sick in this verse is a very general term meaning to grow weary, be weary, to be sick (Enhanced Strong's Lexicon). We know there are all sorts of sicknesses which make us weary. We can be spiritually soul-sick and emotionally heart-sick. Physical sickness wears us out, as well as relational sickness. And what we find here, in these verses, is the cure for every sickness. Prayer in Jesus's name by the power of the Holy Spirit makes the sick person well. 

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Any follower of Jesus is considered righteous. So you brother or sister in Christ, you fellow disciple of Jesus are righteous and have effective power when you pray in His character by His Spirit. Those wandering from the truth are soul-sick. Pray for them. Ask God to bring them back. Do not neglect the call to pray. Do not underestimate the power of your prayers.

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Amen. Let it be so.

Today is the last day of James. And I leave you with the challenge to pray.

There is no closing prayer added to this devotional. I'm blessing you with an opportunity to exercise your power of prayer.

You close in prayer to the Father as the Spirit leads in Jesus's name.

Beyond the Gospels: James

Today's verses: James 4:13 - 5:12
[Open the link above to read online at BibleGateway.com.]

The book of James is full of wisdom and truth. It reads much like Proverbs in this section. Topic after topic, strung together, seemingly unrelated. But wisdom and truth are always relevant and much needed in our lives.

Ask God to reveal what you need to hear from Him today, then read the passage again.
As you read, listen for the Holy Spirit to point out what relates to your present life circumstances.
What wisdom do you currently need?
What truth needs to transform your life?

Read the verses again.

And one more time.

What seems highlighted in your spirit?
Take that word or phrase with you.
Tuck it away in your heart.
Ask God to grow you in the wisdom and truth you need today.

Father God, bless me with a heart ready to receive Your wisdom and truth.

I want to walk wisely in a manner that honors You and pleases You.

Teach me to live out the Word You've given me today.

Beyond the Gospels: James

Today's reading: James 4:1-12

Fights and quarrels among Believers.
Friendship with the world and its ways.
Slander and judgment within the church.

All signs of an unhealthy church.
All signs of a spiritually immature church.

We have not because we ask not.

Begin today, asking God for healing of His church, not only FUMC in Jacksonville, but His church spread all over the world. Ask not for your own gain and comfort, but for His glory. In Jesus's name.

Father God, I pray for Your Church to be holy and wholly well.

Reveal the root causes of our spiritual failings and bless us

with hearts ready to repent. Free us to love one another.

Free us from the ways of the world. Help us recognize where

we are serving flesh rather than the Spirit. Free us from 

judgmental and arrogant attitudes.

Heal us that we may wholly reveal Jesus to a broken,

hurting, lost, dying world.

Heal us for Your glory. Amen.

Let it be so.

Beyond the Gospels: James

Today's Scripture: James 3:13-18
[Read God's Word before the words below. Click the reference above to read online or flip open to the passage in your Bible.]

Who is wise and understanding among you?

Consider this question from our reading today.
Consider the qualities listed in the passage: worldly wisdom vs heavenly wisdom.
Consider the source of each type of wisdom.

Who is wise and understanding among you?

Lord, teach me clearly the difference between the wisdom of the world

and the wisdom of heaven. Bless me with discernment in who I seek wisdom from.

I want Your wisdom, not the world's.

Beyond the Gospels: James

Today's verses: James 3:1-12
[What does James have to say today? Open the link in the reference above or get your Bible.]

Are you convicted? or offended? by what our brother James said to us today? He said some hard things about our tongues and the words they speak:

• It's small but boastful.
• It's a world of evil.
• It carries a fire straight from hell.
• It's untamable.
• It's a restless evil.
• It's full of deadly poison.
• It is either good or bad, but cannot be both.

I can't help but think of what Jesus said about our words:

For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Matthew 12:34 NASB

What's been coming out of your mouth?

Gossip?

Slander?

Lies?

Cursing?

Anger?

Abuse?

Complaints?

Excuses?

Encouragement?
Compliments?

Praise?

Thanks?

Truth?

____________?

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters,

this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?

Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James 3:10-12

James makes it clear. Our words steer our lives. What we speak is who we are. What we say is where we are going. And what we use to praise God should never be used to hurt another person.We may say the right things at times, but what is the motive behind our words? Is it love? or is it the desire to look good? flatter?

I hear James say that our words reveal what's in us, and if it's primarily marked by sinful sayings and salty rhetoric, we need to have a reality check on where we are when it comes to our faith. That's what he's been talking to us about. Faith. And when faith fills our hearts it's evident through our actions and words. Faith-full Believers act and sound more like Jesus than the world.

Fresh or salty.

Pure or tainted.

What comes out of our mouths reflects exactly what's in our hearts.

Lord Jesus, have mercy. Open my ears to what I say.

Tender my heart with conviction and true repentance.