James 1:18-22

For Reading and Meditation:     James 1:12-20

Yesterday we saw that the first step the psalmist took, the step which helped to save him from spiritual disaster, was most surprising. In the midst of overwhelming temptation, he says to himself: "If I give expression to my doubts and speak out of my envious, discouraged heart, I will put a stumbling-block in someone...

For Reading and Meditation:     James 1:1-18

The Bible is replete with instances of God's wisdom moving men and women through the most difficult times to the most wonderful ends. Take Abraham for example. Although he is known in Scripture as the "the friend of God," he was capable of some shabby behavior. On one occasion he actually compromised his wife's chastity ...

For Reading and Meditation: 1 Corinthians 9:15-27

We continue meditating on the idea that everything we do represents a goal. In fact, most of the frustration we experience in life comes from wrong goals and blocks to those goals. Let me illustrate. Cast your mind back to the last time you were angry. If you can identify your goal and what blocked your goal, then you have the clue to...

For Reading and Meditation:     Psalm 149:1-9

We come now to Christ's third prescription for happiness: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). How we have shied away from that word "meek". We have thought of meekness as weakness and thus have a totally wrong concept of what Jesus meant....

There is a subtle deception that attending meetings, conferences and seminars is doing the work of God. We listen to messages and talk about what we know we should be doing, and the delusion creeps over us that we are accomplishing His will. What we are actually doing is increasing our responsibility and deceiving ourselves. We deceive ourselves that we are spiritual when actually we might be quite carnal. We deceive ourselves that we are growing when the truth is that we are stagnant. We...

My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. § He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. § If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. § For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. § Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.Christ… suffered for us, leaving us an...

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. § Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. § I sat down in his shade with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. § I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart. § My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.The statutes of the Lord are...

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. § A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. § No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. § I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever.Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the...

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth. § The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing.How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word … Your word has given me life … Your word I have hidden in my...

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. § Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. § [Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith.Why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say? § But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.Why do you...