Today I read James 2:14-26. The title of this section in the three versions I read in are "Faith in Action", "Faith without Good Deeds is Dead", and "Faith and Deeds". These verses can often be very comfusing. Because doesn't everyone tell us that it's our faith that gets us to Heaven and it's not by anything that we do? It's true. There is nothing you can do to get into Heaven other than accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and commit your life to him. That's just step one though.
Step two involves a little more work. How do you prove to people that you are a Christian? Just sitting there isn't going to convince anyone that you truely believe and that you're different from the rest of the world. In the Message it says that even talking about faith doesn't show that you really are faithful. The Bible goes on to talk about telling a friend who doesn't have addequite clothing or food that just telling them that you hope they stay warm and are well fed isn't going to do anything for them. You must be the hands and feel of Jesus and give them these things, by which you are proving your faith.
The most tricky thing about all this is that you must have faith. You can't just have deeds. The Book says "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons delieve that-- and shudder." (James 2:18 and 19)
This illistrates that just because you believe there's only one God you obviously don't go to Heaven based on that believe because the demons are not in Heaven. Deeds show that you have faith. The Bible talks about a couple examples. One being Abraham and the other being Rahab.
The final verse in this section says "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Book of James: Day 3
Today we're reading James 2:1-13. This passage is about treating everyone the same, no matter how much they have or how popular they are or whatever. It askes, "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?" (James 2:6 and 7.) In one of my Bibles on the side it askes if we treat people different if they're popular or prettier than everyone else. So I'll ask myself that question. Do I? Well, I'd have to say I used to. I always wanted to be well-liked by the 'popular' girls in my grade, but now I could care less if they like me or not. Don't get my wrong, I'm still just as nice to them as everyone else, but I don't care what they think of me or the choices I make anymore.
These verses also talk about all sins being the same in the eye's of God. The same God who said not to commit adultery also said not to murder, so if you commit one, you also commit the other. That even goes for small sins. If you lie, you commit murder. He considers saying that you hate soeone commiting murder, and looking at someone else's spouse is adultery. They are all the same.
In the Message version this is my favorite verse in this passage: "For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy winds over harsh judgement every time." (James 2:13) So if we think that by judging someone you are getting yourself somewhere, we are completely wrong. That's definitly a lesson I can apply to my life.
These verses also talk about all sins being the same in the eye's of God. The same God who said not to commit adultery also said not to murder, so if you commit one, you also commit the other. That even goes for small sins. If you lie, you commit murder. He considers saying that you hate soeone commiting murder, and looking at someone else's spouse is adultery. They are all the same.
In the Message version this is my favorite verse in this passage: "For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy winds over harsh judgement every time." (James 2:13) So if we think that by judging someone you are getting yourself somewhere, we are completely wrong. That's definitly a lesson I can apply to my life.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Book of James: Day 2
In day two of this study we are reading James 1:19-27. It's titled "Act on What Your Hear" or "Listening and Doing". In my NIV Bible it says that the verse everyone should try to memorize is this:
"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, whic can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so decieve yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:21-22 NIV.
Here's what it is in the NLT: "So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."
Message: "So throw out all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let out gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other."
I am going to try to memorize that verse in the NIV, because I like that one the best. Usually the NLT is my favorite, but it make smore sense to me this time in the other version.
Another thing I think is something to remember in this passage is the very first verse. It is definitly a hard one to follow. Here it is in the NLT:
"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19.
I guess I'm quick to listen most of the time.. and usually I think about what I say before I say it, but sometimes I let Satan get the best of me. I say things I don't mean to in my head.. but God still hears them. To Him it's as if I said whatever it is that I thought. And I know a lot of people get angry pretty easily. I've been known to do that, too. So I guess those are all things I need to ask God for help with. But like the verses said yesterday, ask Him for help and He will help you. Our God loves to help.
"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, whic can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so decieve yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:21-22 NIV.
Here's what it is in the NLT: "So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."
Message: "So throw out all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let out gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other."
I am going to try to memorize that verse in the NIV, because I like that one the best. Usually the NLT is my favorite, but it make smore sense to me this time in the other version.
Another thing I think is something to remember in this passage is the very first verse. It is definitly a hard one to follow. Here it is in the NLT:
"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19.
I guess I'm quick to listen most of the time.. and usually I think about what I say before I say it, but sometimes I let Satan get the best of me. I say things I don't mean to in my head.. but God still hears them. To Him it's as if I said whatever it is that I thought. And I know a lot of people get angry pretty easily. I've been known to do that, too. So I guess those are all things I need to ask God for help with. But like the verses said yesterday, ask Him for help and He will help you. Our God loves to help.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Book of James
James is my favorite book in the Bible. Lately though, I haven't been reading much of it. So I decided to challenge my boyfriend (and myself) to a study of James. Today is the first day we'll be reading it. For my study I'm reading it in three different versions, NIV, NLT and the Message. We're reading James 1:1-18 today.
This became my favorite book a couple of years ago when I first started getting into reading the Bible. It's got so many things to remember and advice for your entire life. I think ti's an important part of the Bible to study. James is located near the back of the Book, in the New Testament. It's right after Hebrews.
James is Jesus' brother. He wrote this book probably around 49 A.D. The book talks about trials and abotu faith being something you live out, not just in your words but also in your actions. Ever heard that actions speak louder than words? James believed this.
I just finished reading all three versions of these verses. The verses that stood out to me most are the ones I have heard a thousand times over. James 1:2 and 3.
NIV: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trails of many kinds, becasue you know the the testing of your faith develops perserverence."
NLT: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your failth is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."
Message: "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, you faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors."
In these verses it also talks about asking God for wisdom, but in the Message it puts it a different way. James 1: 5-8.
Message: "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'llg et his help, and won't be condescended to whe you ask for it. Ask boldy, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything fromt eh Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open." (emphasis added.)
So if i were to apply the beginning verses to my relationship with Zach, I'd have to say that God is doing this to us to make us stronger in the end. Or to prepare us for what's to come, whether it's with each other or not. Which, I have to say, I hope it is with each other. But God's will be done.
We are to consider it 'a sheer gift'! Okay, then let's think about that. A sheer gift. What comes to your mind when you hear 'sheer gift'? If you look up sheer in the dictionary it comes up with several different results.
1. Transparently thin.
2.Unmixed with anything else.
3.Extending down or up very steeply; almost completely vertical.
4.Bright; shining.
5.Unqualified; utter.
Dictionary.com also gives you synonyms. Here's what it came up with: mere, simple, pure, unadulturated, absolute, downright, abrupt, precipitous, totally and entirely.
Okay. So James (or God, since this is His Word) means that it's a gift in it purest form; the best kind of gift possible. Being under pressure, having troubles, and being tested are gifts from God! Who would've guessed. It is true though, when in the Message it says that your faith-life shows it's true colors when it's under pressure.
Then, talking about verses 5-8, the Message says them way different than the other two versions. The others say to ask God for wisdom, the Message talks about not knowing what your doing. I guess they are the same, I've just never thought of it that way. The Message makes it sound so much simpler to go to God and ask for help. Isn't that what we all want is help? Direction? Someone to tell us if we're making the right choice or not? I know that's how I am. But most people I've met in my life don't tend to be that way. When I offer acvice no one seems to listen. And then I end up being right. I wonder if God feels that way. I bet he does, and way more often than I do.
I also like at the very end of verse 8 when its talking about trying to get God to help you but you keep all your options open. That sounds a lot like me. I want to follow God in all my ways, but I like to keep my options open. Like, maybe I can do it all on my own. I like to be in control of everything. I feel safe when I'm in control of my life. But sooner or later when I am in control everything falls apart, but God is always there to pick up the pieces.
Well, there's day one out of 11 of my study of James.
This became my favorite book a couple of years ago when I first started getting into reading the Bible. It's got so many things to remember and advice for your entire life. I think ti's an important part of the Bible to study. James is located near the back of the Book, in the New Testament. It's right after Hebrews.
James is Jesus' brother. He wrote this book probably around 49 A.D. The book talks about trials and abotu faith being something you live out, not just in your words but also in your actions. Ever heard that actions speak louder than words? James believed this.
I just finished reading all three versions of these verses. The verses that stood out to me most are the ones I have heard a thousand times over. James 1:2 and 3.
NIV: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trails of many kinds, becasue you know the the testing of your faith develops perserverence."
NLT: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your failth is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."
Message: "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, you faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors."
In these verses it also talks about asking God for wisdom, but in the Message it puts it a different way. James 1: 5-8.
Message: "If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'llg et his help, and won't be condescended to whe you ask for it. Ask boldy, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything fromt eh Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open." (emphasis added.)
So if i were to apply the beginning verses to my relationship with Zach, I'd have to say that God is doing this to us to make us stronger in the end. Or to prepare us for what's to come, whether it's with each other or not. Which, I have to say, I hope it is with each other. But God's will be done.
We are to consider it 'a sheer gift'! Okay, then let's think about that. A sheer gift. What comes to your mind when you hear 'sheer gift'? If you look up sheer in the dictionary it comes up with several different results.
1. Transparently thin.
2.Unmixed with anything else.
3.Extending down or up very steeply; almost completely vertical.
4.Bright; shining.
5.Unqualified; utter.
Dictionary.com also gives you synonyms. Here's what it came up with: mere, simple, pure, unadulturated, absolute, downright, abrupt, precipitous, totally and entirely.
Okay. So James (or God, since this is His Word) means that it's a gift in it purest form; the best kind of gift possible. Being under pressure, having troubles, and being tested are gifts from God! Who would've guessed. It is true though, when in the Message it says that your faith-life shows it's true colors when it's under pressure.
Then, talking about verses 5-8, the Message says them way different than the other two versions. The others say to ask God for wisdom, the Message talks about not knowing what your doing. I guess they are the same, I've just never thought of it that way. The Message makes it sound so much simpler to go to God and ask for help. Isn't that what we all want is help? Direction? Someone to tell us if we're making the right choice or not? I know that's how I am. But most people I've met in my life don't tend to be that way. When I offer acvice no one seems to listen. And then I end up being right. I wonder if God feels that way. I bet he does, and way more often than I do.
I also like at the very end of verse 8 when its talking about trying to get God to help you but you keep all your options open. That sounds a lot like me. I want to follow God in all my ways, but I like to keep my options open. Like, maybe I can do it all on my own. I like to be in control of everything. I feel safe when I'm in control of my life. But sooner or later when I am in control everything falls apart, but God is always there to pick up the pieces.
Well, there's day one out of 11 of my study of James.
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