KJB
Daily Devotion – Following
Jesus In Every
Chapter
Date: Thursday,
December 17, 2015
Chapters: The
Book of James
Message
Title: Producing
Faith By Works

Hello My Friend,

The
Book of James is the twentieth book of the New Testament, fifty-ninth
book of the Bible, and contains five chapters. The author of this
epistle is James, and it was first written to the Jewish believers
scattered all over the world. The purpose of the letter was to
comfort believers who were undergoing trials for their faith. What we
are to learn from the book is that faith is the foundation of our
works, but faith without works is dead. “For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is
dead also.” - James 2:26.

The Jews believe that
since they are God's chosen they are automatically saved from the sin
debt punishment that the rest of us face. If they bothered to read
the entire Old Testament they would see that the Messiah they are
waiting for has already come. James, the son of Alphaeus, also known
as James the Less, spent his entire ministry reaching converted Jews.
James begins his letter by telling them to be exited about being
tried of their faith, but also reminds them that they must be doers
of the word of God if they want to be saved.

“My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let
patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the
Lord. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,
and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save
your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.” - James 1:2-7,20-22.

“and
receive with meekness the engrafted word,” Now, James was
well aware that we are saved by the grace of God through our belief
and acceptance of Jesus Christ, and not of our works, but it is
getting into the word of God and doing it that not only produces
faith, but salvation. James stresses the importance of them knowing
that salvation is for all people, not just them, the poor, or rich,
but all who believe in Christ.

“My
brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of
glory, with respect of persons. 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; 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:
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil
thoughts? For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in
one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit
adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet
if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye,
and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” -
James 2:1-4,10-12,17.

“For
whosoever shall keep the whole law,” This is the reason why
God replaced the law of Moses with the law of grace, it was
impossible for anyone to keep the whole law. Think about this, every
one of the key people of the Old Testament, Noah, Moses, David,
Rehab, Ruth, all did something that would have broken the law, yet
God had mercy upon them and still used them to do great things for
Him. Religion tells us we need to follow all these rules to be saved,
God tells us we are saved by grace through our faith in Christ alone.
The very people that enforce these laws sin, and some of them much
more than others. Do you think the Pope does not sin? Of course he
does, but he's not going to admit that, he believes he is saved by
his works.

“Behold, we put bits
in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their
whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is
a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a
matter a little fire kindleth! 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. 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: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full
of deadly poison.” - James 3:3-8.

“And
the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:” Let me tell you,
our tongue can get us into more trouble than you would not believe. I
have a tendency to speak my mind in a way that causes problems for
me, and it creates a chain reaction of affliction for me. As
Christians, we are going to be tried, we are going to face trials, we
are going to suffer some heartache and affliction, sometimes of our
own doing. Everything that we go through tries our faith, but it is
the trying of our faith that we benefit the most with God. Why? That
is when we seek God more.

“Do ye
think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in
us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God
resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your
hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be
afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to
mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight
of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:5-10.

God
doesn't want us coming to Him only when we are afflicted, He wants a
daily relationship with us. And as much as He would like to
intervene, if we choose to live in sin, we will face affliction. And
let me tell you, it is not God who brings it, it will come from the
very world that they had to be in. We have to realize that many of
the things we go through are not a punishment from God, but are to
bring us closer to Him as we seek Him for help through them, confess
our sins, and have faith that He can help us out of them. Instead of
running from God when affliction comes, embrace Him, figure out what
the source of the problem is and seek Him, if it's just to try your
faith, just pray and He will help you not only endure, but see you
through your affliction.

“Behold,
we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of
Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very
pitiful, and of tender mercy. But above all things, my brethren,
swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any
other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. Is
any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing
psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and
the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they
shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much. Let
him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his
way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of
sins.” - James 5:11-16,20.

Today's
Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy and grace. As much
as I try to live by faith and in Your Word, worldly temptations and
fleshly desires constantly pull me away toward them. It is Your mercy
and grace that keeps You from casting me out, even when I fail You
time and time again. Lord, I want to please You, I want everything
that I do to give glory to You, and I want the world to see Your Son
in me. Lead me and guide me, show me the way You want me to go, and
let me know of the things that You do not want for me. Give me the
strength I need to resist the temptation to go against Your will,
keep me in Your Word to know Your life for me, and let me not pursue
anything that will cause needless suffering. Show me any sin that I
caused upon myself or others, and let me not cease from praying. Fill
me with Your mercy and grace each day, and never let me forget that
if I humble myself to You, You will lift me up. In Your name, Jesus,
Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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