James 4:11-17
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Well, todays devos are something we all have had our problems with: saying someothing bad about someone. Have you ever done that before? You may not understand what verse 11 means when it goes on and on talking about the judge and the lawgiver, so let me explain. The idea here is that when you or I talk bad about someone, we are judging them. This passage makes it clear that we have no right to judge, God is the only judge and therefore if we see someone doing something that we do not like, we really have no right in and of ourselves to look down on them. That idea finishes by stating that there is only one law giver, and that is God. He is the only judge.
The second part of these seven verses go on to talk about the rest of your life. It says, who do you think that you are to put off things until tomorrow. It says that you do not know if tomorrow will come, and even if it does come, it will go by so fast (as a vapor) that you will not even believe it. So what should we do about it? Dont put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Like witnessing to your friend, like reading your Bible, like inviting that stranger to church. DO IT TODAY!
YOU GUYS ARE DOING GREAT! STAY FAITHFUL! WE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF WHO IS DOING THEIR DEVOS, SO DO THEM EVERY DAY! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMEENTS JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL! THANKS!
GET IN THE WORD!
WEDNESDAY, April 9th, 2008
James 4:1-10
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Once again there is so much in this passage. I will point out what impacted me the most. This whole passage starts out by asking us another question: The question is, "Where does all of this fighting come from?" If I hate someone, what causes that hatred? God explains that my hatred comes from my fleshly desires. (My Lusts) Those desires could range from anything to jealousy, pride, anger, selfishness, and many more. These things are the root of fighting in your and my life. Think about it, if you are fighting with your parents, it is because you want something, you want to be treated a certain way, you think you deserve better parents... Whatever the case is, Any fighting that we are involved in is simply a false understanding of our selfish desires.
And we all love verse 4. We become adulterers when we cheat on God. Maybe you have seen one of those tv shows that show husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends cheating on each other? Well, one of those shows could star, US!!!! When we get involved in sin, God says, when we are a friend of the World, then we become His enemy. I want to be Gods friend, not his Enemy!!!
Love you guys! Keep up the good work! See you tonight in church!
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Once again there is so much in this passage. I will point out what impacted me the most. This whole passage starts out by asking us another question: The question is, "Where does all of this fighting come from?" If I hate someone, what causes that hatred? God explains that my hatred comes from my fleshly desires. (My Lusts) Those desires could range from anything to jealousy, pride, anger, selfishness, and many more. These things are the root of fighting in your and my life. Think about it, if you are fighting with your parents, it is because you want something, you want to be treated a certain way, you think you deserve better parents... Whatever the case is, Any fighting that we are involved in is simply a false understanding of our selfish desires.
And we all love verse 4. We become adulterers when we cheat on God. Maybe you have seen one of those tv shows that show husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends cheating on each other? Well, one of those shows could star, US!!!! When we get involved in sin, God says, when we are a friend of the World, then we become His enemy. I want to be Gods friend, not his Enemy!!!
Love you guys! Keep up the good work! See you tonight in church!
TUESDAY, April 8th, 2008
YOU GUYS DID AN INCLREDIBLE JOB ON YOUR DEVOTIONS YESTERDAY. GREAT JOB KASEY, JESSICA, and JILL! I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO BE FAITHFUL EVERYDAY AND FOR TODAY DO THIS... CALL SOMEONE WHO YOU KNOW HAS DONE THEM IN THE PAST AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET ON TONIGHT AND DO THEM AGAIN!
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
James 3:13-18
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
What a short, but informative passage! This passage makes you ask the question: "Am I a person of strife? or am I a person of peace?" This passage reminds me of the kind of person we have all met. "That Guy" the one that wants to fight over everything! He is always right, and if you question that, then you are in for it! Lets look at this man of strife: it says that this man is someone with bitterness, jealousy, strife, pride, a liar, full of sensuality and devilish actions. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully not, If so, we must strive to become like the wise man in verse 17. PURE! peacable, gentle, easy to be rebuked, merciful, REAL! (not a hypocrite).
If we are like this Wise man, then we will have a life of Peace!
So the question is asked in verse one: Who is a wise man? Well, let him show out of his conversation! (That word conversation does not meant talking, but it means "lifestyle")
Our Lifestyle should prove that we are a person of wisdom not a person of strife!
DONT BE "That Guy" :)
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
James 3:13-18
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
What a short, but informative passage! This passage makes you ask the question: "Am I a person of strife? or am I a person of peace?" This passage reminds me of the kind of person we have all met. "That Guy" the one that wants to fight over everything! He is always right, and if you question that, then you are in for it! Lets look at this man of strife: it says that this man is someone with bitterness, jealousy, strife, pride, a liar, full of sensuality and devilish actions. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully not, If so, we must strive to become like the wise man in verse 17. PURE! peacable, gentle, easy to be rebuked, merciful, REAL! (not a hypocrite).
If we are like this Wise man, then we will have a life of Peace!
So the question is asked in verse one: Who is a wise man? Well, let him show out of his conversation! (That word conversation does not meant talking, but it means "lifestyle")
Our Lifestyle should prove that we are a person of wisdom not a person of strife!
DONT BE "That Guy" :)
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
MONDAY, April 7th, 2008
James 3: 1-12
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
This passage is one that applies to every person with a tongue. That would you and me! This passage lets us know how powerful and dangerous our tongue can be. The orange is facts about the tongue and the Blue is illustrations to help us understand how something so small can be so powerful. This passage explains that man has been able to tame every kind of animal. Think about it, we can teach our dog to do tricks, you go to sea world they teach a whale to do tricks, you go to the zoo and you see monkeys do tricks, horses, cows, sheep, tutrles, ligers :) all of them can be tamed. But we cannot tame our tongue. The truth is, the tongue will always diplay what is in our hearts. Therefore, if we want to control our tongue, we must control our heart!
The passage ends by explaining that there is no way that a water fountain can have bothe sweet water and salty water, the same tree cannot bring good apples and oranges. Therefore a persons mouth CANNOT bring forth praise and worship on Sunday and pour out trash throughout the rest of the week!
Lets guard our heart, so that we can guard our tongue!
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
This passage is one that applies to every person with a tongue. That would you and me! This passage lets us know how powerful and dangerous our tongue can be. The orange is facts about the tongue and the Blue is illustrations to help us understand how something so small can be so powerful. This passage explains that man has been able to tame every kind of animal. Think about it, we can teach our dog to do tricks, you go to sea world they teach a whale to do tricks, you go to the zoo and you see monkeys do tricks, horses, cows, sheep, tutrles, ligers :) all of them can be tamed. But we cannot tame our tongue. The truth is, the tongue will always diplay what is in our hearts. Therefore, if we want to control our tongue, we must control our heart!
The passage ends by explaining that there is no way that a water fountain can have bothe sweet water and salty water, the same tree cannot bring good apples and oranges. Therefore a persons mouth CANNOT bring forth praise and worship on Sunday and pour out trash throughout the rest of the week!
Lets guard our heart, so that we can guard our tongue!
FRIDAY, April 4th, 2008
James 2:10-26
ATTENTION SUNCOAST TEENAGERS! WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME IN JACKSONVILLE! YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO WWW.TBC.ORG AND WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO FEED TONIGHT AT 7:30 PM. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE YOUTH CONFERENCE SERVICE WITH THE REST OF US.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
What a powerful punch of a passage! This passage has quite a bit of information but the key idea is that If I trust in Christ then my faith will automatically have works. Remember how we always talk about it in youth group? I think we say: "If you believe something then your ACTIONS will prove it. " Remember the $20.00 Bill illustration?
This passage makes it clear that Faith without works is dead.
This idea is kind of controversial because many people including me believe that faith is the only requirement for salvation. However, several people try to justify their sin by saying that "Salvation is by faith, not by works."
YEs, it is, but Salvation will ALWAYS bring good works. If we are saved then we WILL see a difference in our life. Is there a difference in yours?
ATTENTION SUNCOAST TEENAGERS! WE ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME IN JACKSONVILLE! YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO WWW.TBC.ORG AND WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO FEED TONIGHT AT 7:30 PM. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE YOUTH CONFERENCE SERVICE WITH THE REST OF US.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
What a powerful punch of a passage! This passage has quite a bit of information but the key idea is that If I trust in Christ then my faith will automatically have works. Remember how we always talk about it in youth group? I think we say: "If you believe something then your ACTIONS will prove it. " Remember the $20.00 Bill illustration?
This passage makes it clear that Faith without works is dead.
This idea is kind of controversial because many people including me believe that faith is the only requirement for salvation. However, several people try to justify their sin by saying that "Salvation is by faith, not by works."
YEs, it is, but Salvation will ALWAYS bring good works. If we are saved then we WILL see a difference in our life. Is there a difference in yours?
THURSDAY, April 3rd, 2008
James 2:1-9
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
This passage makes it clear we are not to treat one person better or worse because of the money they have, or because of the way they dress, or anything like that. We must understand that God looks at man from the heart. That is how we should choose our friends. If we choose people who have a pure heart, then we become more like God, because God does not choose the rich, for their money, God chooses the poor. I was lost and poor in sin, but Jesus came and rescued me! This passage ends by making it clear that we are not to repspect certain people over the rest, but we should honor all man for the glory of God. If you pick and choose to respect certain people with "partiality" then you sin. Lets love and respect all!
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
This passage makes it clear we are not to treat one person better or worse because of the money they have, or because of the way they dress, or anything like that. We must understand that God looks at man from the heart. That is how we should choose our friends. If we choose people who have a pure heart, then we become more like God, because God does not choose the rich, for their money, God chooses the poor. I was lost and poor in sin, but Jesus came and rescued me! This passage ends by making it clear that we are not to repspect certain people over the rest, but we should honor all man for the glory of God. If you pick and choose to respect certain people with "partiality" then you sin. Lets love and respect all!
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