Yesterday, I encouraged our church to spend this week reading through the book of James. Beginning today, Monday, we will read James chapter 1 and we will finish on Friday with Chapter 5.
As I read James looking for the nugget that God has for me I realized that this could be harder than I thought. James is chocked full of nuggets. It is a whole gold mine!
While there are many verses that speak volumes to me, the one that resonates the most is James 1:5-6.
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”
If
ever there is a time in my life where I need wisdom, it is now! How awesome it is to think that God wants to give me the wisdom that I need. He just wants me to ask and believe that I will receive it. I am currently asking God for wisdom as I grow as a husband, dad, and pastor. I am asking God for wisdom as I pray through the future of Lifepoint Church. I am asking God for wisdom as I prepare messages of hope, truth, and life.
I need wisdom! Chances are you probably need it as well. Don’t forget that God is the source of wisdom. Take some time today and ask Him for it.
That’s the same verse I journaled about. How often I seek wisdom from other leaders/churches before I seek God. What a stupid thing to do!
i loved the wisdom verse, too, but i also zeroed in on verse 19 and 20 that says, “but let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” wow! how convicting is that!
Jeff,
That’s the same verse that jumped out at me. I guess it’s just more flesh-like to seek for answers from people we trust. The problem with this approach is that no one knows the big picture like God & He alone is the only one who can be 100% trusted. Jeremiah 29:11 just popped into my mind!!! Not only is He the only one who can always be trusted, but we know that He alone knows the way to give us our plan for a good life with a joyful hope for both now and the future.
Found a nugget that relates to our Mission: James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who perserveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who LOVE HIM”
I loved this whole chapter, but I’m with Karen on this one, Jeff too!! It made me want to go on to Chapter 2, but I’m waiting until tomorrow!
I have to be honest with you. This is the first time I have ever actually sat down and wanted to read the Bible. I read some as a kid, but it was forced upon us to learn verses. I have a Contemporary Styled bible so the words may be a little different. I was really touched by James 1:2-3. It reads, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.” I have never under stood what it truly meant to tithe until the series on Debt Free Wilmington. Looking at our budget, my husband and I knew we couldn’t “afford” to tithe because we cannot even afford our normal bills and food without tithing, but we prayed and decided as a couple to trust in God and tithe. I have to say that “tests and challenges have come at us from all sides” so this chapter has just reassured me that we are doing the right thing and God is there for us we just have to trust in him that our needs will be met. Thank you for asking us to join you in reading the Bible and also for mentioning your website. See you on Sunday!