CALLED TO BLESSING

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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Peter

Read 1 Peter 2 - 3

     "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."   1 Peter 2:1-2 NKJV

* * *

     To the scattered and persecuted churches, Peter narrows his message down to the simplicity of faith: Set aside the issues that divide you and focus on the “pure milk” of the Word, growing in your faith and your Christian relationships. In regard to those outside the church, “...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15b)

     Our love for one another in the churches will be the greatest witness of the sincerity of our faith. Peter urges, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing."  1 Peter 3:8-9

* * *

     Lord, I pray that I will be a blessing to my fellow believers, focusing on our common faith rather than the issues that would divide us. Help me to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in Jesus Christ to anyone who asks.

* * *

     "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.”
1 Peter 3:10-11 NKJV   (quote from Psalm 34:12-14)

PATIENCE IN DIFFICULT TIMES

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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - James

Read James 5

     Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded . . . You have heaped up treasure in the last days. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury . . . James 5:1-3,5a NKJV

* * *

     James, in writing to the believers of his day, was also speaking of the final days preceding the Lord’s return. These passages are becoming more relevant every day as we watch the dismantling of financial institutions and hear of the fraud and greed which has caused millions of people to lose their homes and businesses.

     When the pressures of life come along for us, we also are tempted to grumble against each other. We need encouragement to be patient and look up, because our Lord is returning. James reminds us, “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9)

* * *

     Lord, these are frightening times. Help us to trust in You no matter what difficulties lay ahead. Give us the patience to fellowship in unity with other believers as James said, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another. . . The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)

* * *

     Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  James 5:7 NKJV

PRIDE VS HUMILITY

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LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - James

Read James 4

     "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.    James 4:6b-8a NKJV

* * *

     James continues to address the conflicts among Christians and the temptation to live in a materialistic worldly manner. He says, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (4:4)

     The source of the infighting according to James, was covetousness and arrogance. “Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”(4:2b-3)

     In regard to arrogance he says, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ( 4:13-14)

* * *

     Lord, this passage speaks to my heart. We spend so much mental energy just worrying about what tomorrow will bring. Help us to keep our eyes on You and not forget to ask for the provision of our needs - and for wisdom to use your gifts rightly.

* * *

     ...Instead you ought to say,"If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.   James 4:15-17 NKJV

TAMING THE TONGUE

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - James

Read James 3

     But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God    James 3:8-9 NKJV

* * *

     James had heard reports that these Christians were arguing among themselves. While some were living in poverty, others were flaunting their wealth. James calls for humility because all are rich in Jesus Christ. He speaks to the sin of envy saying,
     “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, (and) demonic.”  (James 3:13-15)

* * *

     Lord, I know how easy it is to lose control of our tongues. Whether it be in anger or in gossip, the damage our words can do is unspeakable. Help me to think before I speak and especially to refrain from gossip about someone who isn’t present. Forgive me for the times I have done this.

* * *

     Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.   James 3:16-17 NKJV