My reflections on James 3.
James 1:~My brethren, let not many of you become teachers knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement.
That's a big statement. When we become teachers of the word that we shall receive stricter judgement.
When I think of that, I think of all the people I teach, my children being first and foremost, my friends and any unbeliever I come in contact. What am I teaching them? Are my children being taught God's holy word, completely or is becoming "bible time" and "we've got to get this done".
Is my life mirroring God's teaching? Or have I become caught up in what others think about me?
Is the unbeliever convinced that I love Jesus with all my heart based on my actions or am I just another hypocrite?
James 3:3~Indeed we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and turn their whole body.
Am I obeying God in this way?
James 3:7-9 ~ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 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 similitude of God.
No man on his own can tame his own tongue, we can only do it through our Lord.
We bless our Lord, call out to him in trials, rejoice with him when he has blessed us, yet use the same tongue to shame our children, hurt our friends, gossip, lie, use foul language. etc.
James 3:10~ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing, my brethren these things ought not to be so.
How can we effectivly bless and curse our God from the same lips. How can we expect his blessing when we are not honoring his heart? How can we say we love him, but curse our brother sitting next to us in church? How can we express our love when we criticize or judge the unbeliever?
These things ought not to be so. We can't! We simply can't!!
James 3:11-12~Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree bear olives and a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring bears salt water and fresh.
This scripture tells us it's impossible to do. We can NOT bless and curse our God from the same lips..
Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and their are many who go in by it. because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it. ~Matthew 7:13-14.
James 3:13~But who is wise among you, let him show by good conduct his works are done in meekness of wisdom.
Are we showing our own good works in meekness? Or are we making sure everyone knows how hard we work. What committees we're on? Are we making it public that we are serving at the soup kitchen today? So everyone will see how good we are......
James 3:14-15~But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
Admit it! Repent from it!
For this wisdom does not come from above but it earthly, sensual and demonic..
Admit and Repent!!!!
James 3:16~ for where envy and self seeking exist confusion and every evil thing are there.
Pretty scary? eh?
James 3:17- 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.
Is our wisdom coming for the Lord? Or have we gotten caught up with what the world is saying? Is Dr. Phil and Oprah our sources of wisdom? Is our unsaved best friend our source of wisdom? Is the feel good tv preacher our source of wisdom?
Or are we simply seeking God and his word. Allowing the holy spirit to work on us, through our own trials and joys. Are we remembering that God will give us the wisdom we seek, all we have to do is ask. Are we waiting patiently on the answer or are we trying to rush God..
We can't rush our Lord.
All is done in HIS perfect timing, and by his will for us.. Are we willing to accept his will for us, or do we think we know a better way.
James 3:18~Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Are we at peace with our adversaries? Have we made peace with the family member who insults each time we see them? Have we forgiven those who have hurt us? Have we been willing to see our own faults in our faults with others?
Thoughts?
That's a big statement. When we become teachers of the word that we shall receive stricter judgement.
When I think of that, I think of all the people I teach, my children being first and foremost, my friends and any unbeliever I come in contact. What am I teaching them? Are my children being taught God's holy word, completely or is becoming "bible time" and "we've got to get this done".
Is my life mirroring God's teaching? Or have I become caught up in what others think about me?
Is the unbeliever convinced that I love Jesus with all my heart based on my actions or am I just another hypocrite?
James 3:3~Indeed we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and turn their whole body.
Am I obeying God in this way?
James 3:7-9 ~ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 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 similitude of God.
No man on his own can tame his own tongue, we can only do it through our Lord.
We bless our Lord, call out to him in trials, rejoice with him when he has blessed us, yet use the same tongue to shame our children, hurt our friends, gossip, lie, use foul language. etc.
James 3:10~ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing, my brethren these things ought not to be so.
How can we effectivly bless and curse our God from the same lips. How can we expect his blessing when we are not honoring his heart? How can we say we love him, but curse our brother sitting next to us in church? How can we express our love when we criticize or judge the unbeliever?
These things ought not to be so. We can't! We simply can't!!
James 3:11-12~Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree bear olives and a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring bears salt water and fresh.
This scripture tells us it's impossible to do. We can NOT bless and curse our God from the same lips..
Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and their are many who go in by it. because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it. ~Matthew 7:13-14.
James 3:13~But who is wise among you, let him show by good conduct his works are done in meekness of wisdom.
Are we showing our own good works in meekness? Or are we making sure everyone knows how hard we work. What committees we're on? Are we making it public that we are serving at the soup kitchen today? So everyone will see how good we are......
James 3:14-15~But if you have bitter envy and self seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
Admit it! Repent from it!
For this wisdom does not come from above but it earthly, sensual and demonic..
Admit and Repent!!!!
James 3:16~ for where envy and self seeking exist confusion and every evil thing are there.
Pretty scary? eh?
James 3:17- 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.
Is our wisdom coming for the Lord? Or have we gotten caught up with what the world is saying? Is Dr. Phil and Oprah our sources of wisdom? Is our unsaved best friend our source of wisdom? Is the feel good tv preacher our source of wisdom?
Or are we simply seeking God and his word. Allowing the holy spirit to work on us, through our own trials and joys. Are we remembering that God will give us the wisdom we seek, all we have to do is ask. Are we waiting patiently on the answer or are we trying to rush God..
We can't rush our Lord.
All is done in HIS perfect timing, and by his will for us.. Are we willing to accept his will for us, or do we think we know a better way.
James 3:18~Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Are we at peace with our adversaries? Have we made peace with the family member who insults each time we see them? Have we forgiven those who have hurt us? Have we been willing to see our own faults in our faults with others?
Thoughts?
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