In the Word Wednesday Link-up: Love for James

James is my FAVORITE book of the bible.  It has been since I was probably about 15.  I remember sitting in Catechism class (also known as Sunday school) and hearing our teachers son and his wife speak.  I remember Deborah speaking of her favorite book of the bible: James.  

Deborah went on to speak about how vital the book of James was to our Christian lives.  The book of James told us how to treat each other and how to serve the God that we love. 

I immediately went home and read James and the bible MADE SENSE!!!

James told me how to live!  Don’t get me wrong.  I am NOT saying that DOING anything grants our salvation.  Our salvation comes one way, the blood of Jesus on the cross for US.  HE suffered that horrible death for US; because he LOVED us THAT MUCH.  Why wouldn’t we want to KNOW how best to serve HIM? 

James is an easy read which is not always something you can say for a book of the bible.  It is also relatively short.  I think God made that part easy on purpose.  I think he wanted to make it as easy as possible to share with us how he wanted us to live, to treat mankind, how to go about our daily lives and what to believe.  God gives us James to make things EASIER for us. 

Take the following passage as a PRIME example we ALL can relate to.  I don’t care if you are a Christian or just happen to be reading this.  I PROMISE it will hit home.  Honestly, this passage can give Christians a bad name! 

source

James 1:19-27

19  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

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Just think of the practicality of James 1:19:  …Be quick to HEAR, SLOW to speak, SLOW to anger.  Generally, that just makes sense and honestly it’s the most socially acceptable way to react in potential conflict.  How often have I reacted by raising my voice or letting my temper flair before FULLY understanding and absorbing the truth of a situation?  “Holding your tongue”, at least initially is ALWAYS the road to go…unless someone is threatened by pain or death or some other emergency of course! 

James 1:22 & 25 is where Christians get a bad name.  22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.  I don’t know about you but I cannot stand someone who says one thing but does another; Someone who talks badly about someone just to go to church the next day and act “all holy”.  Most of us are guilty of this very thing at one time or another unfortunately.  I know I am.  I have been.  It is UGLY.  It HURTS the name of Jesus.  It is the very thing that makes non-Christians think Christians are FAKE.  It turns people off.  WE MUST STOP THIS NOW!  We must pray every day to remember these verses and LIVE them.

Another verse to emphasis this point is James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.  And that’s my point…WHAT’s THE POINT in religion if it doesn’t mean anything…if you aren’t watching what you say and how it reflects that religion?  Oh and by the way, I don’t like “religion” anyway.  You can read more about that here.  

James is a lifeline as a Christian.  James is a vital part of your prayer and bible reading life.  I thank God many times over for this part of His Word.
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What have you been learning in the Bible?  Please join myself and these fantastic ladies for this encouraging linkup!  

Becky at Tales of Beauty of Ashes

Sarah at Fontenot Four 
Falen at Upward Not Inward 
Kelly at Exceptionalistic 

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Into the Word Wednesday Blog Hop Rules:

1. Write a post about what God is teaching you this week.

2.  Follow the host and hostess. 

3. Grab a button to put on your blog - the more the merrier!

4. Check out (and comment) other people's blogs and be blessed by all the sisters and brothers around the world!