Daniel: how to make a stand for God when your freedoms are removed. Daniel 1:8-21 Life is made up of a series of smaller decisions. We may find ourselves situated in life and wonder how we got there but perhaps not realise all the smaller decisions that we have made along the way that have […]
Daniel: when God leads you into Exile. Daniel 1: 1-7 Daniel was taken captive to Babylon during the first invasion by Nebuchadnezzar (605-562BC) at about the age of 16. He was from among the elite young men of Israel; physically impressive, intellectually astute and socially poised. A key aspect of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion strategy was to take […]
The wise confess + pray. James 5:13-20 If anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. James finishes his letter to those planted amongst the nations with a prayerful and practical end, particularly in relation to suffering. The first point he makes is if you are suffering you should pray. No […]
The wise say, “If it is the Lord’s will.” James 4:13-5:6 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” In this passage of scripture James makes three essential points. The first point he makes is found in verses 13-17 and it is to be cautious […]
The wise submit their desires to God. James 4:1-12 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? James highlights for us what is happening when we find ourselves fighting with others. The problem has to do with what our hearts desire. James uses the greek word hedenon in this […]
The wise cooperate instead of compete. James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. People will go to someone else for advice not only because they are wise but also because they are understanding. The two go hand […]
The wise control their tongue. James 3:1-12 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James begins this portion of his letter by actually […]
The wise have a faith that works. James 2:14-26 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? James unpacks three kinds of people in this portion of scripture. The first kind is the person who claims to have faith but […]
The wise are impartial. James 2:1-13 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. At the beginning of chapter 2, James now tackles the problem that favouritism plays within communities. His essential point is that favouritism and faith in Christ don’t mix. In fact, they contradict each other. Faith comes from […]
Wisdom in action. James 1:19-27 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. As James moves onto describing faith in terms of action, he does so by reminding his recipients that the word of truth was planted in them not so that they would be an informed people but rather that they might […]