Reading: James 1- Joy in Trials & Doing What We Hear in God’s Word

Verse for Today: 

(James 1:26) Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 

Daily Devo 

James is down to earth. He gets to the practical details of being a disciple of Jesus. He does not claim to be a deep theologian. He walks with Jesus and is faithful to Him and to Torah. 

He introduces himself as “a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” He does not mention that he was a brother of Jesus. He writes, “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion,” that is, to Christian Jews living outside of Palestine. 

He launches into his message. “Whenever you face trials, consider it nothing but joy, because you know the testing of your faith” produces endurance. This endurance enables you to last for the long haul of life. 

Do you need wisdom? Ask God, and He will give it to you if you ask in faith without doubting. (Who said James does not believe in faith? He has practical, not theoretical faith.) The doubter, he says, is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind. He should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 

Anyone who endures temptation is blessed. God does not tempt anyone. We are tempted by our own desire, which leads to sin when we yield to temptation. We cannot say, “The Devil made me do it.” The Devil cannot make you do anything, though his temptations are constantly with us. Do not be deceived by this father of lies! 

God gives good gifts. Every “good” we receive is from Him. “In fulfillment of His own purpose, he gave us birth by the word of truth” (cf. John 3:3-5). Thus, we became a kind of first fruits of His creatures. 

Be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to anger. Anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Get rid of all kinds of wickedness. Welcome with meekness the Word that has the power to save your souls. 

Be doers of the Word, not just hearers. If you are not a doer of the word you are deceived – like those who look in the mirror and on leaving forget what sort of person, they are.  

Look into the perfect law, which is the law of liberty. Keep on in it, not as hearers who forget but doers who act and you will be blessed. 

If you think you are ‘religious’ and do not bridle your tongue but deceive your heart, your ‘religion’ is empty and worthless. Pure religion is caring for orphans and widows in their needs, and keeping yourself unblemished by the world 

James and Paul agree in trusting faith, but a faith that is alive, not dead. Faith must be active in serving the Lord in whatever capacity we are able. Martin Luther, the great reformer, was wrong in calling James “a right strawy epistle.” He loved Paul’s emphasis on faith and insisted on faith only. He misread the passages where Paul insisted on faith being active, alive, and led by the Spirit of God. 

Ask, “How is my Faith? Is it active?” 

Pray for Your Self: 

Father, help me to live with Your Word as my constant companion and guide that puts faith into action. This is my prayer, in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!  

My Prayer for You (and for me): 

Father, I offer this prayer for all who may read these words. I pray that each of us will ramp up our actions to let our faith light shine to save us from evil and deliver us from this world of darkness. This is my prayer, in the precious and holy name of Jesus, AMEN!