Plan Info

Morning Coffee With JamesSample

DAY 2 OF 8

Pure Joy?

Read James 1:2-3

God's Word to Them...

James wrote these words to encourage early Christians who were going through very difficult times. Early converts often lost their jobs, their homes, and even their families, simply for claiming to be followers of Christ. Many of them were put in prison, and some were even killed.

God's Word to Us...

This is one of those hard verses. Are we really supposed to be happy when bad things happen to us? Of course not. Happiness and joy are two entirely different things. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes in waves. Joy, however, is something more permanent. Happiness is a state of our emotions, while joy is a state of our soul.

Happiness is based on our current situation, while joy is based on our future. We may not be happy if we lose our jobs, break our legs, or wreck our cars. But we can have joy in knowing that in spite of all these things, God is good. Although He doesn’t cause the bad things in our lives, He will use those things to make us into the people He wants us to be. Becoming the person He created us to be will eventually bring us both joy and happiness.

Cream and Sugar...

Remember a difficult time in your life. How did God use that time or event to make you stronger?

Our Heavenly Father, please help me to remember today when trials come, both big and small, that You did not send them. Help me to rest in knowing that if I let You, You will use those things to bring about good in my life, and to make me stronger. Thank You for the joy I have in knowing You. Amen.

The Last Drop...

“Grace grows best in winter.” —SAMUEL RUTHERFORD

Scripture

James 1:2-3

Matthew 5:12

Hebrews 10:34

James 1:12

Day 1Day 3

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.

We would like to thank Renae Brumbaugh Green, author of Latte for Life: 45 Devotions from the book of Ruth for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://broadstreetpublishing.com/latte-for-life/9781424553662/

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