Go to the home page: Do You Need A Winning Game Plan For Your Life?
James 1:12-18, Mark 7:17-23
Audio file is at the end of this text.
James, the brother of Jesus, writes with such confidence because he witnessed, over a 30-year period of time, perfection lived out. He saw his big brother, Jesus, obey their parents, do his homework, help around the house and all the while keeping an upbeat, positive attitude. James probably thought to himself that Jesus was an apple polisher--one of those kids who kissed up to the adults.
It took the death and resurrection of Jesus for James to realize that his brother was truly God. Jesus was the one sent to stop history and change the hearts of men and women. What a great promise he gives us here in verse 12. He says if we stick with Jesus, if we love Jesus, if we embrace Jesus and follow his example, we get a crown!
As Americans we're not used to seeing our leaders walk around with crowns on their heads but we use crowns to recognize achievement. Friday night our homecoming queen received a crown and she looked beautiful in it. It made her special; she stood out in the crowd. This verse promises us if we are obedient, we get a crown and I don't think you have to wait until you get to heaven for it. A Christian who is walking with Jesus I think has a glow, an effervescence, a special appearance, don't you think? So while we can count on literal crowns some day, you can have the glow of glory now.
When we fall away from Jesus and lose the glow of glory we tend to blame others. Here James is saying: don't blame God. God doesn't tempt us to do evil. It is our own desire to get off the Jesus path that gets us into trouble. It is the sights and sounds of evil that tempt us and so often these sights and sounds are so subtle that when you look back it almost seems like entrapment. Ask yourself, "What situations do I put myself in? Am I bringing on my problems by being in the wrong place, by looking at the wrong Web sites, by listening to the wrong music or the wrong people?"
Verse 14-15 reads, "Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown gives birth to death."
Sin creeps in due to our laziness and low standards. We must be careful what we look at and what we listen to. Jesus says in Mark 7:21-23, "For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come---sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander. arrogance and folly. All of these evils come from inside and defile a person."
James throws up a big red flag and calls us out. He teaches us not to blame anyone for our sins. We are to look inside our own heart and remember that nothing evil comes from God and that, "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights."
Friday, November 2, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Called to Joy
Go to the home page: Do You Need A Winning Game Plan For Your Life?
Mark 3:20 says Jesus was called insane by own family. John 7:1-4 tells how those close to him thought he was running for public office! This makes it clear that Jesus was completely misunderstood by many including his siblings. Those close to him didn't know who Jesus really was. The resurrection changed everything. James, the brother of Jesus, moved from making fun of his older brother to worshiping him, teaching others about him and then dying for his cause. James was completely changed by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Have you been changed by your encounter with Jesus? Have you seen the resurrection?
Here's a one-question test you can give yourself: Am I able to stay joyful when I am going through hard times? Can I stay calm when people are making fun of me? This is the instruction James gives us in verse 2. He says, "Consider it pure joy when you face trials because those trials will produce perseverance." This is a very tough test, but, it is the call of the gospel. People without the power of Christ working in their lives get angry, frustrated, bitter or depressed when they face a tough situation. How do we differentiate ourselves if we get angry, frustrated, bitter or depressed when things don't go easy for us? How can we say we are following Christ if our lives look like those who are not?
When people hurt us we tend to want to strike back. James says, that is immature. We are to take the negative situation and stand strong in it. When you do this, you get stronger. Hopefully, the things that bother you when you were 20 won't bother you when you're 40. Maturing in Christ gives you endurance and an ability to put things in perspective.
Need wisdom? Who doesn't?! Verse 5 tells us to go straight to God when we need wisdom. How do we ask God for wisdom? We read the scripture which is the textbook for living. God has given us every answer to every question life throws at us. And, guess what? When you ask God for an answer to your question, God gives it graciously without thinking less of you.
James packs power in these few verses. Got joy? Got wisdom? Got stamina in the storms of life? That's the promise of the resurrection.
James 1:1-11, Mark 3:20, John 7:1-4
Audio of this message at the end of the text.
Have you ever been put down by others? Have you been made to feel small or inadequate? Sure. We all have. Jesus, too, experienced this.Audio of this message at the end of the text.
Mark 3:20 says Jesus was called insane by own family. John 7:1-4 tells how those close to him thought he was running for public office! This makes it clear that Jesus was completely misunderstood by many including his siblings. Those close to him didn't know who Jesus really was. The resurrection changed everything. James, the brother of Jesus, moved from making fun of his older brother to worshiping him, teaching others about him and then dying for his cause. James was completely changed by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Have you been changed by your encounter with Jesus? Have you seen the resurrection?
Here's a one-question test you can give yourself: Am I able to stay joyful when I am going through hard times? Can I stay calm when people are making fun of me? This is the instruction James gives us in verse 2. He says, "Consider it pure joy when you face trials because those trials will produce perseverance." This is a very tough test, but, it is the call of the gospel. People without the power of Christ working in their lives get angry, frustrated, bitter or depressed when they face a tough situation. How do we differentiate ourselves if we get angry, frustrated, bitter or depressed when things don't go easy for us? How can we say we are following Christ if our lives look like those who are not?
When people hurt us we tend to want to strike back. James says, that is immature. We are to take the negative situation and stand strong in it. When you do this, you get stronger. Hopefully, the things that bother you when you were 20 won't bother you when you're 40. Maturing in Christ gives you endurance and an ability to put things in perspective.
Need wisdom? Who doesn't?! Verse 5 tells us to go straight to God when we need wisdom. How do we ask God for wisdom? We read the scripture which is the textbook for living. God has given us every answer to every question life throws at us. And, guess what? When you ask God for an answer to your question, God gives it graciously without thinking less of you.
James packs power in these few verses. Got joy? Got wisdom? Got stamina in the storms of life? That's the promise of the resurrection.
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