Simple truth for complicated times
April 29 - May 3, 2024 | Always Peachy Devotionals | Book of James Week 1
What book of the Bible hits the hardest?
The answer probably depends on who you ask, but in my opinion, the Book of James is one of the most challenging reads in all of Scripture. Not because it’s so hard to understand, but the opposite: It’s easy to understand.
It’s just impossible to do.
Well, not impossible. Nothing is impossible with God, right? And that’s exactly what we learn in James. This little book at the back of the New Testament is all about practical Christian living. If any of the writers of the New Testament could be compared to a Midwesterner, I think James would be a perfect option.
There’s something alluring about practicality, I think. Or, again, that could just be my Kansas coming out. Life feels so big and overwhelming and complicated all the time, and there are so many plates spinning all at once that there’s no way to keep up with all of them. Or is there?
Is life really as complicated as it seems? Or do we just make it that way? Is there really so much to worry about that we can’t make simple choices about what’s right and what’s wrong? Or do we just confuse and muddle every situation we’re in because we don’t really know where to stand?
This month we are going to study the Book of James, because in a world that is getting darker and crazier with every passing day, those of us who love Jesus need some simple truth to show us how to take the next step. And that’s what James is about.
Simple truth. Simple choices.
But it’s not easy. Simple rarely means easy. But if we truly believe in Jesus and follow Him, He will empower us to make the true simple choice every time, no matter how hard it feels.
Since there are five weeks in May and there are five chapters in James, we’re going to tackle a chapter at a time. I would highly encourage you to read the book of James as a whole. It’s not very long, and the more you familiarize yourself with it, the better off you will be. I can only focus on a few verses out of the whole book, and it’s a beautiful work of truth that makes everyone who puts it into practice better.
For week 1, we’re primarily going to talk about faith from a practical standpoint.
Endure in trouble, rejoice in suffering (James 1:2-4)
Being double-minded, disloyal (James 1:6-8)
Brag about being poor (James 1:9-10)
Temptation comes from inside us (James 1:13-14)
Do. Don’t just listen. (James 1:25)
Straightforward, right? It’s charming. And refreshing. To only have to choose between two options—what’s good and honoring to God and what isn’t. If we can boil down the complexities of life to a single choice like that, we’d all be better off.
And since the whole book of James really revolves around the idea of obedience, I thought James 1:22 would be a great verse for our memory work this week.
Listening is great, right? It’s a skill for sure. We aren’t born knowing how to listen. We have to learn how to do it. But there’s more to life than listening. There’s more to following Jesus than just listening to what He says.
We have to do it.
Otherwise, did you listen? Did you learn? How can any of the truth of God’s Word affect your life if you don’t put it into practice?
It can’t.
So don’t be like the “Christians” who listen to truth and then forget about it as soon as something more interesting catches their attention. Listen to God’s Word and remember it. And more than just remembering, do it. Obey it. And you will see a blessing your life every time.
God promised it. So He’ll do it.
Hugs!
Amy
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