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Make Up Your Mind!
Read James 1:6b-8
God's Word to Them...
James didn’t beat around the bush. He told his readers not to be double-minded, asking God for wisdom, and then doubting that wisdom. He urged them to make up their minds, for God has little patience with people who are not fully committed to Him. He would not give wisdom to those who would not receive it with the respect and reverence it deserved.
God's Word to Us...
We do the same thing today, don’t we? We ask God for wisdom, but then we don’t like the wisdom He gives. So we disregard His wisdom and do whatever we please.
When we doubt God and seek another source of wisdom, we had better hold tight. Any guidance we follow, other than God’s perfect wisdom, is likely to come crashing down on us at any moment. Without God’s perfect wisdom, our lives are unstable.
God gives His wisdom generously to those who really want it. But He won’t give it to people who won’t treasure it, who will cast it aside as though it were worthless. When we believe God, when we trust Him, He will always lead us to solid ground. Our lives, when built on His wisdom, are stable.
Cream and Sugar...
List ways in which following God’s wisdom has made your life more stable.
Dear Father, thank You for the stability that comes with following You. When I doubt You, remind me of these verses. I want to believe You and trust You no matter what. Amen.
The Last Drop...
“He who is in a state of rebellion cannot receive grace… rebellion closes up the channels of the soul, and shuts out the airs of heaven.” —OSCAR WILDE
About this Plan
As the half brother of Jesus, James knew a side of our Lord that few others did. He ate with Him, slept with Him, played brotherly pranks. He worked alongside Jesus in the carpenter’s shop. He loved his brother. But as is the case in so many families, James was too close to his brother to recognize Him as special. I can only imagine the confusion and embarrassment James felt when his big brother told people He was the Messiah! I can only imagine the shame James carried when his big brother was executed like a common criminal. Then, after Jesus was dead and buried, James saw Him. His brother, whom he loved, stood right before his eyes! James lived out the remainder of his days building the church. We never hear James boasting about his relationship with Jesus. Instead, he refers to himself as Jesus’ servant. He calls his fellow Christians “brothers.” The book of James doesn’t tell us how to become a Christian. Instead, it is a practical how-to guide for Christian living. He tells us to persevere, to stand firm in our faith. He tells us to stop talking about our faith and start living it. He tells us to treat everyone equally and to stop playing favorites, to control our tongues, to seek God for all of life’s answers. James is a no-nonsense kind of guy. So pour yourself a cup of coffee and flavor it just right. Then, sit back and get ready to learn timeless lessons from James 1, the brother of our Lord.
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