November 21, 2022
WHO DO YOU CALL? Today, when someone complains of an illness or pain. The first question they are asked is: “Have you called the doctor?” Yet, when James was writing his epistle, the first question would’ve been: “Have you called the elders of the church?” Having available modern medicine, we forget the benefit of prayer
November 20, 2022
WILL WE EVER HAVE PEACE ON EARTH? We may blame conflict on external circumstances caused by others, but James said that war actually originates within each of our hearts. How long in human history did man exist before his first quarrel? Not long. Just long enough for two brothers to be born. Yet God saw
November 17, 2022
MOVING TRIALS FROM THE SAD COLUMN TO THE GLAD COLUMN James described the spiritual mindset that the Christian should have when facing trials. What is this mindset? “Great joy.” Not happiness, which is based on external happenings, but “great joy,” which comes from within and is the fruit of the Spirit for the believer that
November 21, 2021
THE LORD’S COMING IS NEAR As the farmer patiently waits for the rain and the harvest, so James called believers to be patient and courageous until the Lord’s return. For the Lord’s coming is near. How near? No one knows, except the Father. As Jesus taught, “Now concerning that day and hour no one
November 18, 2021
PARTIALITY HAS NO PLACE AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE The apostle James wrote that believers should not show partiality to some over others. He especially had in mind those who were favoring the rich over the poor. He said that showing favoritism exposed not only their evil motives, it was actually committing sin. This instruction continues
November 17, 2021
WHY NOT ASK GOD? It seems self-evident that the one who lacks wisdom would ask the all-knowing God for help. Yet, asking God is often the last choice, rather than the first. Prayer is often only considered after every other human resource is exhausted. But why not ask God first? Perhaps it’s because of
November 21, 2020
WHO DO YOU CALL WHEN YOU’RE SICK? Today, when someone complains of an illness or pain. The first question they are asked is: “Have you called the doctor?” Yet, when James was writing his epistle, the first question would’ve been: “Have you called the elders of the church?” Having available modern medicine, we forget
November 20, 2020
WILL WE EVER HAVE PEACE ON EARTH? We may blame conflict on external circumstances caused by others, but James said that war actually originates within each of us. How long in human history did man exist before his first war? Not long. Just long enough for two brothers to be born. Yet God saw the
November 17, 2020
ONLY GOD CAN HELP US WITH OUR OVER-DESIRE The Greek word translated “desire” is “epithumia,” which literally means “over-desire,” or “over-heated desire.” It might also be translated as “lust.” Desire itself is not evil. God created us with desire. No one has to teach a baby to cry for its mother’s milk. It is
November 21, 2019
REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THE SICK An often overlooked resource in the modern church. Having available modern medicine, we forget the benefit of prayer and laying on of hands. Yet, the Bible says that having the elders in the church pray for you and anoint you is the proper response when you are sick. In