Holly
The Bible was written by many authors as a guidebook for our lives. It was inspired by God to teach us the way we should go to earn our eternal rewards. In order to live a Christian life, many trials and temptations will be faced. James 1:2-3 tells us, “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” God’s Word will encourage you to build a stronger faith in action. For now we’ll focus on the book of James.
Building a Stronger Faith
Satan will do all he can to tempt us as we follow God and strive to live for him. He wants us to fall short so that he can collect us as trophies in the end. Stay strong and remember your worth as you are a chosen child of God. When you give in to temptation, it gives birth to sin which then results in death. In James 1:12 it says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres 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.”
Temptations
Jesus was tempted as well after he was baptized and went off into the wilderness to begin his journey toward his purpose. Satan knows our weaknesses and how to attack us. He knew when to tempt Jesus during his wandering, trying to offer things or even tempting his authority for food. His responses was always the Word of God to resist the devil’s temptations that you can dig into more in Matthew 4.
James tells us to not be deceived because even though we may be tempted, we can resist them if we stand strong in our faith. James shares that every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights. As written in James 1:18, “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” This refers to the salvation we receive from accepting the truth about Jesus Christ and repenting for our sin.
We should be quick to listen, slow to speak and become angry as our anger can cause us to sin. It will lead us down an unrighteous path with a horrible destination. We should listen to the word and put it into practice for our lives. When we don’t, then we end up forgetting those lessons. This will also result in a spiritual downfall.
Ethical Teachings
The ethical teachings of Christianity are rooted by the Ten Commandments but brought together in fulfillment by Jesus Christ. We need Jesus to live up to God’s standards because by our faith we receive his forgiveness and mercy. James 1:25 says, “But the man who looks into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” It’s called “the law that gives freedom” because Christ sets us free when we follow him.
Religion and Favoritism
True Christianity is more about a relationship with God through faith than a religion. Religion is seen as human efforts to achieve God’s favor. In James 1:27 he states, “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.” James gives us two principles here that describe Godly religion: mercy and purity.
- Christians must show pure love and compassion for those in need. We should always do what we can for those who need assistance or support.
- Christians must imitate moral and spiritual purity by not following the world’s influence.
James warns us in James 2:1 to not show favoritism. Its wrong for many reasons…
- It displeases God as he looks at the heart and not at the outside appearance.
- It’s not supported by pure love.
- We unfairly favor influential people which is evil thinking.
When you show favoritism, you deny the law stating, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We must show God’s love to others no matter who they are. If we have faith but show no action to support it, it’s dead or no good. You must do what you say and say what you do.
Being Human
God knew as humans we mess up and stumble at times. This is why Jesus did what he did by laying down his life for us to receive deliverance from those sins. We are warned to “tame the tongue” as it can be very destructive like a wildfire. As basically stated in James 3:9, we can either praise our Lord, or we can curse others who are just as loved as we are by God. So, in a way you’d be cursing God.
When you ask God for something, ask with the right motives and not with self pleasure. It’s stated in James 4:6 that, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” In James 4:7 he encourages us by stating, “Submit yourselves to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee.” We`ll always be more victorious in overcoming the devil when we submit to God.
We all set goals in life which is fine, as well as feeling accomplished when you achieve them. It only becomes a sin when we brag about those achievements by our own abilities instead of acknowledging the role that God had in helping us.
Patience is mentioned many times in the Bible, but is a hard pill for many of us to swallow. James 5:10 tells us to have patience in the face of suffering as it does build endurance. Nearly everyone in the Bible endured some form of suffering, but I’ll simply share about Job. Satan made him lose practically everything and caused him severe pains. However, he remained strong in his faith no matter what. In the end, he was rewarded by God with more blessings than what he previously had.
Faith Reflections
Understanding that prayer has great authoritative power is something we should have. The Bible even tells us in Matthew 18:20, “Where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” James shares with us that when there is a need, to reach out to others and pray together. Pray for healing, comfort, or even repentance if someone sinned. James 5:16 tells us that prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
James reminds us in his last verse that, “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” When we save others from the death of sin, we are obeying what Jesus instructed us to do when he ascended up to Heaven. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). We’re to spread the gospel and grow his discipleship so that he may gain the relationships he deserves.
For us all to live a righteous life for Christ, we must absorb his word and apply it in our life. He wouldn’t be a loving father if he didn’t provide the proper warnings along with words of encouragement. We have the Bible for direction and guidance because God only wants what’s best for us. He went to prepare an amazing place for us in Heaven and greatly wants to share it with us. Jesus Christ set the trail before us for repentance and salvation so that we can gain everlasting life.
Holly wonderfully explained what it means to be a disciple. Anyone can believe, but can’t claim to be a disciple until obedience follows the believing. True relationship with Jesus means that we think and act like Him, not simply that we think He was good teacher with great moral ideas. Keep up the good work, Holly. I’ll keep reading.