Hello Advent Family,

 

The book of James is a book of action. Some think of it as flying in the face of the idea of grace, but a better reading of it is calling us to action because of God’s amazing grace. James doesn’t pull punches and essentially tells us that real faith requires action. Let’s look together at a section of chapter 1 together today. 

 

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

Be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry. Wow that would certainly make for a lot less arguments in our world today. He goes on to tell us to listen to the word of God but also to act on it. If we are acting on the word our lives will be a blessing, if we are not our faith will be dead. James tells it like it is. May we all be challenged by a journey through James in the coming days.

 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave