I Peter 1:2-   Peter's letter is so full of deep truths.  I really feel the need to pray for insight and understanding from the Holy Spirit.. so that I can grasp what He has to say to me.. to us.. through these words.  I am still "chewing" on the verses from yesterday.. how I am.. we are.. "chosen".. according to the "foreknowledge of the Father... by the sanctifying work of the Spirit..." so that I/we  "may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood."  

 I guess I have always thought of the gospel of salvation in this order of events: The Father sent the Son -> The Son died and rose again -> The Son sent the Holy Spirit. 

 But, this is not what Peter is saying. He says.. the Father chose me.. knowing me beforehand -> The Spirit sanctified me.. set me apart for Jesus; -> so  I can now obey Jesus and be "sprinkled with His blood." 

 This "sprinkling" is likened to what Moses did when he dedicated the temple, the Word, and the people in Exodus.. Hebrews 9:18-23 also talks about this. "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."  Jesus offered Himself, once for all... "For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)  We are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:22 says, "having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." 

Father in heaven, open the eyes of our hearts that we might understand how great and wonderful You are!  You knew us, You called us, You chose us and You brought us to obedience and dedication to Jesus Christ, our glorious Savior and Lord.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, our life-giver and Comforter, who has brought us to know Jesus.. and continues the work of sanctification that we might stand before the Throne of God "without blame at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."  Lead us in the righteousness, keep us from temptation, and help us to daily walk in holiness, to the glory of our Savior and of our Gracious God and Father.  Amen. 

 I Peter 1: 1-2  "... to those... who are chosen.."   We are selected. A divine election.  Favored... by God our Father... who knew us beforehand.   He knows us.. He sees us, is aware of us and understands us. And He chooses us, "by the sanctifying work of the Spirit.. "  It is the work of God's Spirit to call us to Himself, to call us to holiness... to separation from the world and separation to our Lord.  ".. that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood." 

The Trinity is individually and collectively involved in our salvation. By grace, God the Father loves us and chooses to make us part of His "predetermined" plan.  We have no merit on our own... He chooses us by His unmerited favor..   It is His Spirit that brings us to salvation that has been provided by Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for us. 

Andrew Murray wrote this.. "The Spirit and the blood of Christ are two divine powers that work together in this rebirth - the blood for the forgiveness of sin, and the Spirit for the renewal of the person as a whole.  Through the blood you receive the Spirit and are saved and purified to receive the Spirit."  He goes on to say.. "That is why you as a Christian may have the confidence to trust the Spirit to lead you. Let your faith in the precious blood of Christ be strong and sure." 

"May grace and peace be yours in full measure." 

Father in heaven, how marvelous are Your works!  How great is Your grace!  May we stop.. "Be still".. and recognize and understand..and  "know that You are God".   It is by grace that You have chosen to call us to Yourself.. that we might put our faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for us. It is Your Spirit who is at work to sanctify us through and through.  We are Your children.. called by Your Name.. and we are so thankful.. Blessed be Your Name.  Amen.

Nehemiah 11-13  Nehemiah describes the organization of the people in and around Jerusalem as his work nears its end. Then he arranges an amazing dedication service for the wall.  Two great choirs are led on top of the wall so that they surround the city of Jerusalem.  ".. and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar." (12:43)

If only it stayed that way.  Nehemiah returned to Babylon to once again serve Artaxerxes.  After a short time, perhaps 1-2 years,  he returned to Jerusalem.  What he found there was disheartening:

The priest had allowed Tobiah, Nehemiah's enemy to actually live in the Temple! So, Nehemiah threw him out. 

The people had not been giving what they should, so the Levites had left to go back to growing their own food.  So, Nehemiah rebuked the leaders and restored the giving of tithes. 

The people were profaning the sabbath day by buying and selling and working.. so Nehemiah "admonished them" and had the gates shut and guarded so that merchants could not enter.  When they stayed outside the gates through the night, Nehemiah threatened them with force.  

The people had again intermarried with foreign women, so that even the children were speaking foreign languages and not Hebrew.  The high priest's grandson was one of these.  So, Nehemiah threw him out. 

Before Nehemiah had returned to Babylon, the people had signed a covenant to obey the Word of the Lord.. and just a few years later they had turned away in all these ways.  Nehemiah took responsibility to correct all he could.. praying as he did.. 

"Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services." (13:14)

"For this also remember me O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Thy lovingkindness." ( v22b)

"Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites." ( v29)

"Remember me, O my God, for good." (v31) 

No matter what others choose to do.. we can make the choice to obey God's Word. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that "Remember" is a plea for help, not just a request for God to not forget something.  The Hebrew word can mean to "mark" or recognize, mention.. or think about.. 

Father, we pray that You would remember us.. for good, according to Your compassion and love. Keep us in Your righteousness and truth.  May we serve You faithfully... no matter what.  Help us, Lord, to deal with those who have turned away.. lovingly restoring them with grace and truth.  May we have wisdom that is from You, wisdom to walk according to truth with purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy. May Your will be done and Your name glorified in us, Your people. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Nehemiah 9-10  After celebrating the feast of Booths for seven days, concluding on the 22nd day of that month.. the people of Israel returned again  on the 24th day of that month to fast- in sack-cloth and dirt or dust.  They again listened to the Word of God for about 3 hours and then spent 3 hours confessing their sins and worshiping.  Imagine... 6 hours of church!  We are so puny in our devotion... 

The prayer offered in verses 5-38 is a combination of praise and and an acknowledgment of the sins of Israel.  It recounts the birth of Israel with the calling of Abraham through the exodus from Egypt and the exile to Babylon.  They confess the hardness of their hearts, their disobedience to God's commandments, their stubbornness and rebellion, and the blasphemy of idolatry.  Over and over again they praise God for His grace and compassion, His forgiveness and restoration, His deliverance, and His provision. 

This passage gives us some wonderful words that we can also pray to our God, for example:

v 5-6 "O may Thy glorious name be blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou alone art the Lord. Thou hast made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host." (Father in heaven, You are glorious and we exalt Your name. You are God alone, the Maker of heaven and earth. There is no other.)

v 17b "But Thou art a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness; and thou didst not forsake them." (Thank You f)r forgiving me, Lord God. Thank You for showing compassion to me and for never forsaking me.. even when I was living in willful disobedience. You never gave up on me.. Thank You!)

v27b ".. Thou didst hear from heaven, and according to Thy great compassion Thou didst give them deliverers who delivered them for the hand of their oppressors." ( Father, Deliver us from those who steal, destroy, or persecute us.  You are our Deliverer."

v 30a ".. Thou didst bear with them for many years." ( Father, thank You for bearing with me.. with us.. for all these years.)

Chapter10 

The people made a written covenant which they signed. They committed themselves to obey God's laws, to give the sacrifices, the tithes, and the first fruits.. and to not neglect God's house. And for a time.. Israel was faithful to her Lord. 

Father in heaven, we are thankful for Your Word.. for Your instruction and help from the Holy Spirit, that we might walk with You in our own lives.. in faith and truth.  You are our Great and Mighty God, who forgives, who has compassion on us, and who hears us when we call to You.  Blessed be Your Name. Father, we pray that You will strengthen us in our hearts and souls, to stand firm, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus, to abide in You day by day, and to love You more and more.  We draw near to You and thank You for the promise that You will draw near to us.  Lead us in truth and righteousness we pray, to the glory of Jesus our Lord. Amen. 

 Nehemiah 8  After listing all the exiles...by name.. that were now living in Judah, Nehemiah records what God does next... "And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel." 

The people saw that God had restored Jerusalem's wall and the temple.  He was with them and this drew their hearts back to Him.  As the Word was read the people were attentive. Some of the Levites helped to explain the law or translated where needed.  Many of the people may have not understood Hebrew any longer, but spoke only Aramaic.  What happened next showed that the people really heard and understood God's Word.. as they fell on their faces and worshiped God. 

Nehemiah and Ezra declared, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep."  Instead, it became of day of rejoicing and celebration. " And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them." 

The next day the heads of households, the priests and the Levites gathered again to hear Ezra's teaching. They learned about the feast of Tabernacles.  It was just in time to prepare for and keep that festival, so they did. "And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance." 

The nation of Israel had an opportunity to start over.  They heard the Word, understood it, and obeyed it. The feast of Tabernacles or Booths was a celebration of God's provision. The harvest time was upon them. God was blessing them. It was a time of joy. 

Father, thank You for giving us the Word of Life that brings great joy to our hearts. We desire to hear, understand, believe, and obey Your Word always.  We ask that You fill us with Your Spirit continually so that we can find Your joy.. which is our strength.. to walk in all Your ways to the praise and honor of Your holy Name.  May Jesus Christ our Life and Light.. our "joy and delight"..  be revealed in us as we are filled with Your joy and peace and hope. We ask this in His Name. Amen. 

 Nehemiah 5-7  Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah where he served for 12 years.  He faced many struggles, but he remained faithful to the Lord.  God granted him much wisdom and strength through these years.  As Nehemiah continued to face opposition from outside the city, he also faced problems inside too. 

In chapter 5 Nehemiah faces the outcry of the poor Jewish people. They were facing a famine and it brought them to the point that they had to sell their land.. which was their livelihood.. and also their sons and daughters.  Their own people were taking advantage of them.  When this was brought to Nehemiah's attention he became very angry.  He held the rich men accountable and when they were confronted with this sin, they agreed and gave back what they had taken. 

Nehemiah was careful to live by example.. he refused to indulge in the money that was rightfully his because of his office as governor.  Instead, he provided for others in every way he could and he trusted God for everything else. 

Nehemiah was continually threatened by 3 men.. Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem.

 Sanballat was the governor of Samaria.  His position of power would be threatened by the restoration of Jerusalem. His opposition to Nehemiah was political.  He was probably  Jewish.. as his daughter was married to the grandson of the high priest. Over and over again Sanballat sent letters to Nehemiah to try to trap him and to threaten him.  He even hired "insiders" to try to make Nehemiah afraid enough to hide in the temple... something Nehemiah refused to do.    

Tobiah was called an Ammonite, but may also have been Jewish. He had a position of authority that was also at risk because of Nehemiah's work in the restoration of Jerusalem.  

Geshem was an Arab.  He was a vassal of Persia who had  a lot of personal power with many tribes in the Syrian desert.  He had a lot to lose also if Jerusalem became the center of power once again.  

These three would do everything they could to stop the rebuilding of the wall.. but Nehemiah did not waver. In 52 days the wall was completed...   "And it came about when all our enemies heard of it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God." 

We can learn a lot from Nehemiah. He trusted the Lord. He was given godly wisdom and discernment. He persevered. And he did not allow the things of the world to distract him from the ways of the Lord. He learned to trust men who were faithful to the Lord and to recognize those who did not. Nehemiah listened to the voice of God. Several times he refers to what God put "in his mind" or  "in his heart" to do. This seemed to be his every day practice..  may it become ours too. 

Father in heaven, thank You for giving us Your Word, filled with examples of people like Nehemiah who walked by faith and served You with all their heart.  Help us to follow these examples.  Thank You for showing us examples of those who failed to live for You.. that we might recognize those that are in our times.. and that we might be discerning.  May we be blessed to "not walk in the counsel of the wicked.."  May we be "like a tree firmly planted by streams of water.." as we delight in Your Word and are filled with Living water, Your Holy Spirit, who flows freely from our hearts.  Keep us close to Your heart today, that we might hear Your voice and obey... we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Nehemiah 3-4   In chapter 3 Nehemiah made a list of everyone who worked on rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.  Each took charge of a section of the wall or of a gate and repaired that portion. They worked side by side.   It was hard work, made more difficult when the foreign neighbors started complaining, ridiculing, and threatening them.  Yet, even with this, Nehemiah never stopped trusting in God's provision.  His faith and faithfulness encouraged others to continue to rebuild.. even if they had to do it with a sword in one hand. 

Nehemiah encouraged the people.  "Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." (4:14) Remember...  "Our God will fight for us." (v20)

We need this kind of encouragement today.  We live in a time when sin is glorified and people get angry at those of us who believe in God's Word.  We see more and more people who boast of their lifestyles that are offensive to their Creator. They do not want sin to be called sin. So they persecute those who do.   But, we are reminded again that our battle is not against flesh and blood, "but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." ( Eph. 6:12) 

Like the people in Nehemiah's time, we need to keep our swords in one hand as we do the work of rebuilding.. Our sword is  ".. the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God."  And our vital work is prayer.  " With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.. " (v 17b-18) As we each do our part, side by side.. like those who were rebuilding the wall.. our God will frustrate the plans of the enemy and enable us to complete the work He has called us to do. 

We are fighting for our brothers, sons, daughters, husbands and wives.. for our households.. just as the people of Israel were.  We need not be afraid.. knowing that our Lord is great and awesome and that He will fight for us too! May God give us the heart to work and the perseverance to never give up. 

Father in heaven, we hallow Your name and pray that You will receive all glory and honor and praise.  May the earth be filled with Your praise!  Father, we pray for our families and for our churches, that You would direct our hearts into Your love and into the steadfastness of Jesus Christ.. that  we might be faithful to stand firm in these evil days.. and that we might fight the good fight. Fill us Spirit of God, sanctifying us through and through and guiding us into the way You want us to go. May Christ be glorified in our lives, we pray. Teach us to pray as we should. Give us a passion for prayer. Give us a heart to do this vital work.. We ask this in Jesus' name .  amen. 

 Nehemiah 1-2  Fourteen years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, a group of men from Judah returned to Persia. One of these was Hanani, the brother of Nehemiah.  The news from Judah broke Nehemiah's heart.  He spent days fasting and praying for Jerusalem:

 " I beseech Thee, O God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open to hear the prayer of Thy servant which I am praying before Thee now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Thy servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against Thee; I and my fathers house have sinned... " (v5-6)

Nehemiah confesses his sins and the sins of his people and then he appeals to God's promises - "Remember the word which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.'" (v8-9)

Nehemiah prayed and God answered.  It took about 4-5 months, but as Nehemiah served the king, Artexerxes, they had a conversation that led to Nehemiah going to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall of the city.  Nehemiah knew, without a doubt that God's hand was upon him.  Even when opposition arose, he had great confidence... "The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build.. " he told his opponents. And so he began. 

Isn't it wonderful that we can trust the promises of God! We can know that He will do what He says He will do.  God's Word never fails and is always consistent.  John wrote, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ( I John 1:9)

It is the same principle that Nehemiah clung to.. confession and repentance precedes redemption.  Our great God gives us the same promise today.  If we will turn back to Him, with humility.. confessing our sins and repenting of them.. He will forgive us and restore us.  Hallelujah!

Father in heaven, we rejoice in Your great power and Your strong Hand, for You are our Redeemer, our God who reigns in heaven above and earth below.. and there is no other!  Hallelujah! What a Savior! You have washed us clean in the blood of the Lamb, Your precious Son. To think of this.. O how we bless Your Name and stand in awe of such amazing love and grace. Stir our hearts to pray for our country, even as Nehemiah prayed for his. We pray for deliverance from evil, for revival of Your people, and for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done.  We ask this, according to Your Word, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord of all. Amen. 

 Ezra 1-10  Ezra was a priest, a descendant of Aaron.  He recorded the return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem according to the decree by Cyrus, the king of Persia and later confirmed by King Darius.  The fact that the Jews were not only allowed to return, but were encouraged and given great amounts of gold and silver etc.. is miraculous!  Even when the enemies that surrounded Judah tried to stop them from rebuilding.. God used these foreign kings to prosper the work. 

The temple was rebuilt and dedicated. The Passover was observed. The priests were ready to do their jobs and God was blessing His people greatly.  But...there was a problem.  Many of the people, including priests and Levites, had intermarried with foreign women.. breaking the covenant of the Law.  When this was brought to Ezra's attention.. he wept.  He tore his clothes and fell before the Lord.  His prayer was this..

 "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to Thee, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads, and our guilt has grown even to the heavens."(9:6)

Ezra recognized and confessed the sins of his people. While he was still praying.. the people began to gather.. and changes began to happen.  The book ends with a list of those who confessed their sin and agreed to put away these foreign wives and children. 

This seems so hard.. a hard thing for the Lord to require.. And yet.. Jesus said.. " If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26) He wants us to have our priorities in place.. that our lives be wholly devoted to Him.. above all else. It does not mean we shouldn't love our families.. it does mean that our commitment is first of all to our God and then to them.  It is only when we put Him first that we can really love others anyway. 

Father in heaven,  You are our great and mighty God, our Creator, and our Provider.  We belong to You and You have shown us that when we have the right order of things.. You first, above all else.. when we exalt You and humble ourselves.. then and only then can we be truly blessed.. satisfied.. happy.  Teach us, Spirit of God, to love in this way.. to obey and trust and surrender to Your will.  May we abide in Jesus and His word in us.. that every word and deed will glorify Your Name. Father, Ezra's prayer for Israel is also our prayer for America.. we are ashamed of the sinfulness that floods our country.. and we pray for people to weep and repent before You.  Bring revival and restore Your church in America we pray.  Amen. 

James 5  Again, James addresses those who are rich.  Their lives have been interrupted by the fact that they have had to leave their homes because of persecution. Yet, they have held on to their faith.. in their possessions.  James admonishes them to see themselves in light of the Truth.  Riches will rot. Silver and gold will rust. Earthly treasures will burn up. 

More than that.. their failure to treat their workers fairly is sinful. When they live luxuriously and treat "the righteous" terribly, God will hold them accountable for their actions. 

Walking in wisdom.. they must humble themselves and do the things that please God.. faith in action.. in words and deeds.  

Beginning in verse 7, James exhorts the believers to "be patient".  We are included in this exhortation. "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." 

Be patient with one another - not complaining.. not judging... and not neglecting one another.  Tend to and pray for the sick.  Praise the Lord along side those who are rejoicing in Him.  Be honest with one another when we struggle and fall. Build up and encourage one another when our brothers or sisters struggle and fall. 

In other words.. love.  Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  And love your neighbor as yourself.  Speak the truth in love. Be kind and merciful, showing grace towards others. Forgive. And most of all... Pray. 

Father in heaven, may Your love fill our hearts. Let the grace of Jesus Christ fill us with that love. Holy Spirit.. take control, and lead us in Truth. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 James 4:5-17  In light of verse 4, the truth that friendship or partnership with what is worldly is deemed hostile to God, James says, "Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose; 'He jealously desires the Spirit which he has made to dwell in us.'? "  Now this is a difficult verse.  Even the commentary I use calls it difficult!  The various ways to interpret this verse bring us to think about two particular truths:

1. Humans have a problem with envy..  and yearning for the world.. which leads to sin.

2. God wants our whole hearts.. His Spirit wants us to fully yield to His leadership.  He is jealous for us!

We need our Lord's help to make the right choice. Thankfully.. He promises to do just that!

"But He gives a greater grace." (v6)

He gives that grace to those who will humble themselves before Him. The humble will find grace as they "submit therefore to God".. and as they "resist the devil".  When we humble ourselves before Him, we "draw near" to Him and He draws near to us. 

Humbling ourselves and drawing near to our God requires that we cleanse our hands, purify our hearts.. mourn our sins, and turn to Him for everything. "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." 

It takes this humility to walk according to the Truth, to learn endurance, to persevere in trials, to have wisdom from above.  Jesus is our example. As Paul wrote, "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." ( Phil. 2: 5-8) 

In humility we do not argue and quarrel and have conflict with each other over worldly goods.  In humility we will not speak against one another as if we have the right to judge.  In humility, we will not boast about things we cannot control. In humility we will do the right things, as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.. submitting to God and resisting the devil. 

Father in heaven, have Your way in us. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  "Let your grace and truth preserve [us] always." ( Psalm 40:11)  May we proclaim what is right. May we declare Your faithfulness and salvation.  May we not hide Your righteousness, Your grace, or Your truth.  May we walk humbly with You, our great God and Father, loving mercy and doing justice, to the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You for hearing our prayers as we ask these things in His Holy Name. Amen. 

 James 4  Real, living, faith that transforms our lives... produces good fruit.  The Holy Spirit writes God's Word in our hearts and on our minds.  By this, our tongues are also brought under His power. 

Came to Psalm 39 today.. and read about how David had this same problem.. "I said, 'I will watch how I behave, so that I won't sin with my tongue; I will put a muzzle on my mouth whenever the wicked confront me.'"  But, as hard as he tried to keep silent, he found it impossible.. "My heart grew hot within me; whenever I thought of it, the fire burned. Then.. I let my tongue speak."  

Then, he prayed, asking the Lord to help him grasp that his life was only "a puff of wind"...  To remember that humans.. all of us.. have numbered days.  "Now, Adonai, what am I waiting for? You are my only hope. Rescue me from my transgressions; don't make me the butt of fools. I am silent, I keep my mouth shut, because it is You who have done it." (v7-9)

For David, it was remembering who he was.. a human who is just passing through this world.. and Who he served..  God.. who was his only hope and could do what he couldn't on his own... that helped him to get control of his tongue. 

James is not finished addressing the issue. "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?" he says.  Quarreling comes from an untamed tongue.. doesn't it?  And the cause is a heart issue.. "Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?"   It's lust for what you don't have. It's envy for what you "cannot obtain".  It's fighting with someone else because of your own lack of faith.  It's a heart that is being deceived and deluded.. and not walking in wisdom ... according to the Truth. 

The truth is:

"You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." ( v2-4) 

When we remember who we are.. and that our days are like "a puff of wind"... and we put our hope in God alone.. we can learn to live and walk by faith.  We ask for what we need and trust our Lord to provide. We can yield to His leading and trust His provision.  Those are the "right motives"... when we ask for what we need..  in Jesus' name.. for the glory of God. 

Father in heaven, forgive us for the times we have asked You for things with selfish motives.  Help us to walk in Truth and learn to trust You fully.  Keep us mindful of the fact that this world is not our home.. we are "just a traveler passing through".. and we don't need to fellowship with what is worldly and hostile to You.  We do need the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the love of our gracious Father.  For this we ask, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 James 3  - Here James addresses the problem of "the tongue".   James says that we all "stumble in what" we say. The tongue is small, but is as powerful as the rudder on a ship or the bit in a horse's mouth - able to direct our lives... able to set "on fire the course of our life.. "   It can cause a fire greater than a forest fire... ".. set on fire by hell."   It can be poisonous.. with venom like a viper. It is restless.  It is full of evil.  It defiles.  It curses.  It is unable to be tamed. Even when we try to use our tongues to speak good.. evil can still spill out.  James says, "My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." (v10)

 Jesus talked about the same thing.. "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.  And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgement. For by you words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."  ( Matthew 12:33-37)

So, what is the solution?  Wisdom. 

Not earthly wisdom that is bitter and jealous, arrogant, and false.  But, wisdom from above -pure and peaceable, gentle and reasonable, merciful and good. As we have already read  - wisdom that we can ask God for.. believing that He will give it to us when we ask without wavering. Wisdom that we are fully committed to live by.  Wisdom that is sown in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  Wisdom that produces righteousness and "is sown in peace." Wisdom that leads us to walk according to Truth. 

God can tame our tongues.. as we yield to His Spirit.. giving Him the reins. We must let Him fill our hearts with good.. writing on our hearts His law and putting them in our minds as He promised.   We must fill our hearts and minds with the Word of God.. that Word which is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.. " ( Hebrews 4:12) 

Father in heaven,  You have made us and You know us perfectly. You know our shortcomings and failures.  You know what is in our hearts and what has come out of our mouths. Forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Please pour out Your Holy Spirit into our hearts.. to teach us to abide in Jesus, to remain in Your Word, and to live according to Your Will.  Grant us Your wisdom and fill our hearts with all that is good and right and just, according to Your Word.  We ask these things, as Jesus has instructed us to.. in His Name. that we might bear good fruit, that You will be glorified! Amen. 

 James 2:14-26  This section of James' letter  focuses on "faith".  James is clearly teaching that we must have true faith.. living faith.. faith that produces fruit.  True faith will be accompanied by "works".  Therefore, he says, "faith, if it has no works, is dead.. " (v17) 

He gives us two examples.. 

1.  ".. the demons also believe and shudder".v19

2. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?" v21

The first is an example of a "faith" that does not save. The second is an example of saving faith, for ... ".. Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." 

I keep going back to what James has written in chapter 1.. if we ask for wisdom, God will grant it.. and when we have His wisdom we will be able to walk according to the Truth.  The truth is that anyone can say he has faith.. but unless his or her life produces some "works".. it is "useless". 

Yes, we are saved by faith alone... as Paul wrote in Galatians 2.. but it has to be real, true, living faith in Jesus Christ.  We cannot be saved by going through acts of religion. When we have real, true, living faith in Jesus.. we will do the works like His. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father."  (John 14:12)

James has already given us examples of these kinds of works... living according to truth; loving our neighbors.. unconditionally; being totally committed to follow Him without wavering or doubt, enduring the tests of our faith; persevering through trials;  not being deluded or deceived by our self-centered thinking, but being an effectual doer of the word.   Abraham believed God and acted accordingly.  Rahab believed and acted by helping the Israelite spies. True faith is life changing!

Father in heaven, Jesus told us to ask.. in His name, "anything" and He would do it... that You would be glorified. We ask for true, living faith that works.. that produces the works of Jesus.. to the glory of Your Holy Name. Let us not be deceived by the dead faith like that of the demons. But, let our faith be perfected, like the faith of Abraham.  Thank You for hearing our prayer and doing in us what only You can do, for we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 James 2:1-13  As an effectual "doer" of the Word, living according to the Truth, we need to be aware of our attitudes towards others.  James points out an attitude of "favoritism" that his readers needed to address in their congregations. It is one that we need to examine in our own lives and churches as well. 

James gives us an illustration of the problem.  Two people enter the church. One is obviously wealthy and one is obviously not.  The rich man is treated well and the poor man is set aside.  ".. have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?"  James asks.   

To make "distinctions"...  in today's cultural chaos we call it  discrimination... prejudice.. inequality....  It is pronouncing  judgement because of a  person's appearance, status, race, etc.  Out of "evil motives"....  selfishness or greed or hatred.. or whatever has hardened our hearts. 

Jesus said, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement." ( John 7:24) 

James is saying the same thing.. act according to the truth, not according to "personal favoritism".  The truth.. in his illustration.. is that this "poor man" is chosen.. "did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"( v5)  The truth is that this "rich man" is like the ones who "drag you into court [and/or]... blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called."  (v6-7)

By not using righteous judgement, based on the Truth.. they were dishonoring the man they should have honored.  Instead, they should have treated both men according to "the royal law"... as the Word commands - "You shall love your neighbors as yourself."   This is living according to the truth-  and that is wisdom..

James goes on to point out that partiality is a sin.. just as much of a sin as adultery or murder.  His point is that sin is sin.. "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." ( v10)

But, we have been shown mercy! "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty".  We have a Savior who showed us undeserved mercy by dying on the cross for our sins-all of them.  To act in accordance with this Truth.. we are also to show mercy to others.  

This is such a vital truth! "For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement."  Jesus said, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it we be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:36-38) 

Father in heaven, we come again to ask for wisdom to live according to the Truth of Your Word, that every word and deed would be to the glory of Your holy Name. Forgive us for acting out of wrong, evil motives, instead of out of love and compassion. Thank You for the mercy You have shown to us! Holy Spirit, teach us to walk in these truths..to be merciful as You are merciful; to love our neighbors.. impartially and compassionately..  Let Your will be done in us, Your church,  Lord God. In Jesus' name we pray. amen 

 James 1:22-27  Our God has given to us His Word.. He has implanted it in us, so that we might be saved. Because of this, we are new creatures.. able to endure.. able to persevere in trials.. able to live according to the Truth, in  the wisdom that He has given to us.  We are truly blessed! We can look forward to the day when we will receive "the crown of life". 

"But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves." (v2) 

Twice in these few verses James warns us about the problem of "self".  We can delude ourselves.. and we can "deceive [our] own heart". (v26)  To deceive is to mislead or lie about what is true; to misrepresent  the facts by words or actions;  to delude is to fool someone..( in this case ourselves).. so completely that we accept what is false to be true.  Exactly what Satan did in the garden.. and what occurs in mankind.. as Romans 1:25 says,  when ".. they exchanged the truth of God for a lie." 

To hear the Word but not act according to the Word and think that everything is fine with God.. is a delusion.. and we have tricked ourselves into believing what is absolutely false! James equates this with looking in a mirror, then turning away .. and forgetting what we look like.  Its shallow and unfruitful.. it hasn't changed us at all.  It's seed sown in the hard soil that doesn't grow at all, or maybe it has popped up but doesn't have roots, or gets choked out by the weeds. 

When God implants His Word in us, He wants it to make a difference in us.. to bring Life.. to bear fruit. James writes, "But one who looks intently at the perfect law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." 

If we are an "effectual doer" of the Word.. we will act according to the Truth.  We will not delude or deceive ourselves with falsehoods.  For one thing, we will learn to "bridle [our] tongue". We will abound in love towards those in need.. " to visit orphans and widows in their distress." And we will "keep [ourselves] unstained by the world." v27 In other words, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ will abide in us and we in Him. 

 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples." ( John15:7-8)

The old saying is "the proof is in the pudding". I have no idea what that means literally.. but I see what it means spiritually - the proof of discipleship is seen in us as we "DO" what the Word says. It's seen  in our words and in our deeds...as we walk according to the Truth...as we endure the testing of our faith with joy.. as we persevere through trials .. as we receive the wisdom to count it a blessing to know Jesus more than anything.  

Lord God, our Great Heavenly Father, help us to live for You as effectual doers of Your Word. We confess that it is so easy to look at the Word and then walk away and just do whatever we feel like. But, we want to prove ourselves to be Your true disciples.. to abide in You and to walk in Truth.. to bear fruit for the glory of Your Name.  So we ask.. that You would do that work in us, filling us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we will stand before You "without blame at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."  You are faithful and You will bring it to pass. Thank You. "How precious, God, is your grace!" In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord we pray.   Amen. 

 James 1:18-21  By God's will.. He "brought us forth by the word of truth".  As John wrote, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." ( John 1:12-13)

Lust gives birth to sin, leading to death.  But, the Word of Truth gives birth to new creations..children of God.  The "first fruits among His creatures."  The complete Jewish Bible writes it this way.. "Having made His decision, he gave birth to  us through a Word that can be relied on." 

Therefore... know this..".. let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger." 

As new creations, children of God.. tested, tried, and enduring.. we ask for and receive His wisdom, that wisdom from above- which is pure, peaceable, gently, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering and without hypocrisy.  We live according to the Truth.. which means:

 We listen carefully.. heeding the truth; 

We watch what we say, restraining our lips ( Proverbs 10:19 and 17:27);  

And, we don't allow anger to control our actions.. "For " the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God". ( James 1:20) He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.." (Prov.16:32)  

Living according to His Truth we put "aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility [we] receive the word implanted, which is able to save [our] souls." v21 

Receive the Word -  let it be engrafted..germinated.. and grow up in you... producing Life .. fruit- filled Life that glorifies the Son, who is the Living Word who became flesh.. 

Father in heaven, You are the Giver of Life.. both physical life and spiritual Life that comes from the Word implanted in us by Your will. How great is Your Love, that You would send us the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us.. so that as many as receive Him have the right to be called Your children. Awesome.. astounding.. amazing!  Praise and thankfulness rise up in our hearts! You are our Salvation. You are our God.. who is like You? No one! May we live according to Your Truth, with wisdom.. and by the power of Your Holy Spirit who lives in us. We ask this according to Your will, in the name of and to the glory of..  Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

 James 1:12-   When we ask for wisdom and are firmly committed to live for Jesus, according to the Truth.. we will receive endurance.  James tells us in verse 12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."  We need endurance to persevere under trial.  To keep abiding, to remain, to bear up under the trial.. to suffer.. to take it patiently and with fortitude. 

 A "tested" faith is one that has experienced something that proves its trustworthiness.  Only a tested faith can produce endurance.  Only an enduring faith can persevere under trial.  The trial can be an experience of good or of evil. It can be a solicitation - a plea or appeal, an enticement,  a temptation; or it could be an experience of discipline or correction. 

 James goes on to tell us that when those trials come.. we can know with certainty that if we are enticed to do what is evil.... it is not from God.  He will never.. ever.. appeal for us to do what is sinful or offensive to Himself!  ".. for God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt anyone." 

There is a whole different cause and effect involved here.  It begins with "lust" - the strong desire for what is forbidden.. that will carry us away.. will "tempt" us to do what is evil.  When lust "conceives" - when we let ourselves be carried away by our own desires.. we sin. We miss the mark.  We offend God. We err.  And this leads to "death".. for the wages of sin is death. This is mankind.. this is us.. without grace... 

" Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." (v16)  James adds here. God does not desire us to do evil and He will not tempt us in that way.. far from it.. "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."  His will for us is righteousness, not sinfulness.  "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth... "  Praise God that though the wages of sin is death.. "the  free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)  He is is the way, the Truth, and the Life!

Father in heaven, fill us with Your perfect Wisdom, the Spirit of Truth, so that we will walk in faith. Faith that has been proven trustworthy. Faith that will persevere under trial. Faith that will not be deceived and will not vacillate. Help us to walk in Truth. To abide in Christ Jesus, the Light of the world, who has brought us into fellowship with You, our great Father and God.  Instruct us and teach us in the way we are to go.. counsel us and watch over us, that we might do everything, whether in word or deed, to the glory of the Son. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, believing we will receive what we have asked for, according to Your Word. Amen. 

 James 1:5-11  The Lord invites us to ask Him.. for wisdom.. for mountains to be moved ( Mark 11:23).. for "anything" ( John 16:23).  But, we must ask "without any doubting" .  If we are to endure "the testing of our faith" and be made complete in Christ Jesus...then we need to ask for wisdom and believe that He will give it to us "generously and without reproach". 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that "knowledge is the apprehension of the truth.. and wisdom is its application to life." Verses 9-11 give us a perfect illustration of this:

 "But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position."  The truth is that this believer doesn't have much in the way of material goods.. he knows that very well..but he also knows that there is glory to come because of his faith in Jesus Christ, so he lives in that greater truth.  That's wise. 

 ".. and let the rich man glory in his humiliation because like the flowering grass he will pass away.. "  Wisdom is not trusting in the riches or the successes or the "pursuits" that will "fade away".  He humbles himself before the Lord who holds his future and does not trust in his temporary material belongings. That's wise. 

Spiritual wisdom, James writes, is "from above" - it is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits. unwavering, without hypocrisy". ( 3:17)  "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior and deeds in the gentleness of wisdom."  Wisdom is not.. "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition".  It is not "arrogant".  It is not filled with falsehoods.

So, we need to ask for true wisdom... to live out His Truth.... with purity and gentleness, doing what is good and merciful and peaceable.. the way Jesus lived. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." ( Col. 3:17) We ask Him to help us to live out this truth.. and we believe that He will do it!

But, we need to think about this problem with "doubting" or being "double-minded".  For, it is a serious issue... " for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.... being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." ( v6,8).  It is a major problem, because.. "...let not that man expect he will receive anything from the Lord."  It stops our prayers. It interrupts our relationship with our Father in heaven.  It leaves us storm tossed and drowning.. like Peter when he tried to walk on the water with Jesus... we start sinking. 

The word translated "doubting" is diakrino, it means "to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from, oppose, discriminate, hesitate, contend, stagger, waver".   A double-minded man is one who  vacillates.  The Holman Bible dictionary says this.. "James urged those who pray to do so without doubting.This doubting is not so much intellectual doubt ( Does God exist?), but doubt about commitment ( Am I committed to this God to whom I pray? Will I make use of this wisdom for which I pray?) Such doubt is described as double-mindedness. The double-minded are unstable in all their ways, that is they vacillate between following God's way and their own way. The solution to double-mindedness is to draw near to God who can purify the heart."  James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." 

Father in heaven, You are the solution to every problem! We want to draw nearer to You so that we can be pure of heart.. steadfast of mind.. firmly committed to standing on the Rock - Christ Jesus.  We do not want to waver in doubt and unbelief.. so we ask You for true wisdom and true faith.  Fill our hearts with Your Spirit so that we can do everything.. in word or deed.. for the glory of our Lord Jesus. We ask this in His Name and give You thanks.  We know that You have fashioned our hearts and that You understand everyone of us, for You watch over us all. You will make our hearts pure as we draw near to You.  We wait for You, our shield and help, and we trust in Your holy name. Amen

 James 1/ Psalm 32 

Andrew Murray wrote this about God's Word - "Each Word or promise of God is a seed sheltering divine life in it. If I absorb it into my heart by faith and love, and meditate on it, it will produce fruit. "  Murray says to take a verse or passage that the the Spirit lays on your heart.." to the throne of grace and plead for the promise locked in it."  Let it become your prayer.. the Word "a powerful  fuel that must carefully and prayerfully studied, taken to heart and lived by. " 

 Psalms 32:5 "I will instruct and teach you in the way that you are to go, I will give you counsel; my eyes will be watching you."  This Word from God holds an amazing promise! It can be a prayer for myself.. " Lord, instruct me and teach me the way I am to go today... "  It can be a prayer of intercession for others.. "Lord, will you instruct and teach_____ the way that he should go. Will you give him counsel and watch over him today?" 

Which brings me to James 1:2-3 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."  Knowing... not just hoping or wishing... but KNOWING that when our faith is tested it will produce endurance. "And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Endurance  is from the Greek word - hupomone - constancy, patient continuance;  to remain; to bear trials with fortitude, to abide; to take patiently.. 

The promise we can unlock from this Word is so powerful! The trials we have experienced.. and the ones that are ahead.. will bear the fruit of endurance -to give us a constant, patient, strong abiding in Christ.. that will result in completing and perfecting us according to His will and purposes.  Yes, we can count that all joy!

Father in heaven, let my trials.. present, past, and future.. produce patient endurance in me. Help me to know this without a doubt. Help me to live this truth with joy!  Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are right now suffering great trials, that they would know that You are at work in them, producing endurance and bringing them to complete maturity in Christ the Lord. Instruct us and teach us from Your Word, Lord God, that we might know the way to go. Counsel us and keep Your eyes on us as You have promised. We put our trust in You to surround us with Your grace, for we rejoice in You. In Jesus' name we pray.. Amen and amen!

 II Chronicles 34-36  Josiah was 8 years old when he became king of Judah.  He was the last "good" king, doing "right in the sight of the Lord, [he] walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left." 

Verse 3 "For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David."  What a wonderful story.  This 16 year old king took it upon himself to "purge" Judah and Jerusalem... and even parts of Israel.. from all the idolatry that his father had multiplied throughout the land.  Josiah restored the temple and the roles of the priests and Levites.  He also prepared a celebration of Passover that had not been seen in the land "since the days of Samuel"... greater by far than even his grandfather, Hezekiah. 

After Josiah's death, his son Joahaz became king, but reigned for only 3 months before he was taken captive by Egypt.  His brother Eliakim was put in his place and his name was changed to Jehoiakim.  He lasted 11 years, but was taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar. 

Then Jehoiachin.. the 8 year old son of Jehoiakim became king for 3 months... doing "evil in the sight of the Lord."  He was also taken away to Babylon and his uncle Zedikiah was made king.  He also did evil, he "stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel." 

Again and again, the Lord sent His messengers.. "but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people until there was no remedy." 

Judah was taken captive.  Jerusalem was defeated. The temple was burned down.. and those who weren't killed were led away to Babylon. It would be 70 years, "until the land enjoyed its sabbaths", before Cyrus, the king of Persia would send God's people back to "build Him a house in Jerusalem." 

Eight year old Josiah chose to do what was right, but 8 year old Jehoiachin chose to do evil. Makes you think, doesn't it?  Oh how vital it is that we teach our children the ways of the Lord! Without godly leadership, the nations of Israel and Judah suffered destruction and loss. Sin increased.. "until there was no remedy."  That is a startling sentence.  We need to pay attention.. for our own country is following the wrong path.. mocking God's Word, hardening their hearts, and boasting in their sins.  We are headed for disaster unless we turn back to the Truth. 

Father, we pray for our nation today.. for repentance and revival. Let Your Word come and spread rapidly and be glorified in this land. You are gracious and merciful, Lord, and we are thankful for Your patience. But, help us to pay attention to Your voice, to hear the warnings of Your messengers, and to humble ourselves before You.  We pray for the children of our nation, that they might choose You, to be like Josiah and to seek You with all their hearts. We ask for Your mercy upon them and upon us all. In Jesus' name. Amen.