Day 12 - August 31, 2014

Today's Reading: James 3:13-18 (NIV)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Dan's Thoughts:
Nobody ever said they didn't want to be wise.  Nobody tries to be foolish.  Yet somehow, its easy to find ourselves not letting our life reflect the wisdom of the Bible.  Do you believe this book is real?  Do you believe it gives you a clear path (Proverbs 3:5-6) if you trust it?  Do you believe it is the instruction manual for how to overcome sin (Psalm 119:9-11) and temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)?  If the answer is yes, why don't we live like it more often?

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 11 - August 30, 2014

Today's Reading: James 3:7-12-26 (NIV)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
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. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.


Dan's Thoughts:
Our mouth was a gift from God to bring praise and worship to him.  That doesn't just mean songs.  Everything about your life is worshiping something.  What does your mouth worship?  Does it worship a relationship?  An assignment at school?  Practicing an instrument?  Yourself?  Or is it worshiping God?  An apple tree doesn't produce oranges.  A Christ follower shouldn't produce non-Christian stuff either.

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 10 - August 29, 2014

Today's Reading: James 3:1- (NIV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.  ³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Dan's Thoughts:
If you think the Bible is an easy book to read, check out this passage again.  If there's one thing that always reminds me I'm not perfect, it's my mouth.  Not just language, but being cynical, gossip, manipulating, or speaking over people.  Plain and simple: my mouth doesn't always show people I'm a Christ follower.  I wonder if I'm not alone?

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 9 - August 28, 2014

Today's Reading: James 2:20-26 (NIV)

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. ²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶ As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Dan's Thoughts:
If you don't know the story of Abraham (Genesis 12) or of Rahab (Joshua 2), go read them.  Their faith influenced their actions on a HUGE level.  I've found that it's really hard to have your faith dictate your actions, but it is always worth it.  Have the spirit live in your body (verse 26), and prove it by having your outer actions reflect an inner transformation.

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 8 - August 27, 2014

Today's Reading: James 2:14-19 (NIV)

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Dan's Thoughts:
This is one of the toughest, and yet most instructive passages in the whole Bible in my opinion.  James' point?  Faith without actions actually backing it up is useless.  In fact, it may not be actual faith; but instead you may be deceiving yourself into calling yourself a Christian, when in fact, your actions don't reflect that claim.  How do I know if water is hot without touching the inside?  I need to see steam.  The same is true of Christians: how can the world know our belief is legit without actually peering into our hearts? By having our actions say that we are the real deal.  We are transformed people.

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 7 - August 26, 2014

Today's Reading: James 2:8-13 (NIV)

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.  ¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Dan's Thoughts:
Did you know that loving your neighbor (or, everybody in your path as the parable teaches!) is only a good thing if you show the same love to every person?  Do you play favorites with who you show love to?  Don't try and find short cuts around how to be godly.  Give of yourself equally and completely to everybody in your path.  That's what Jesus did for you!

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 6 - August 25, 2014

Today's Reading: James 2:2-7 (NIV)

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?



Dan's Thoughts:
When James talks about the rich and the poor, he's speaking to something we all struggle with (whether we have tons of money or not!): distortion.  What distorts your view of the people in this world?  Does economics change the way you view people?  This passage is a reminder to see people the way God sees them as you go about your life, and not let the "rich" distort your godly view of the world.  As you go to school today, live this out by having eyes for the spiritually blind, reject, unpopular, and neglected students in your path.

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 5 - August 24, 2014

Today's Reading: James 1:26-27 (NIV)

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ 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.
Dan's Thoughts:
Perhaps there is no enemy greater in the world than deception.  It's one thing to do the wrong thing and realize it.  It's a whole different issue to do the wrong thing, and dupe yourself into thinking whatever happened isn't quite as big of a deal as it really is.  James gives the example of pure religion as looking after orphans and widows, but he could have put anything that takes serious guts and determination.  He could have put anything in there that the world says shouldn't matter.  Are you living a pure life?

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 4 - August 23, 2014

Today's Reading: James 1:19-25 (NIV)

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.  ² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.


Dan's Thoughts:
Being quick to listen (responding) and slow to speak (versus reacting) is something I've struggled with my whole life.  How are you doing at responding, versus reacting when things don't go your way?  At the root of us reacting instead of responding is "moral filth and the evil."  However, if we do more than just "listen" to the Word, but actually "do" what it says, our actions will lead to blessings within our lives and the lives we touch.  When you look in the mirror, what do you see?  Is it a person who is honoring God and continually being transformed, or are you merely a shadow of the Christ you worship?

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 3 - August 22, 2014

Today's Reading: James 1:13-18 (NIV)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.


Dan's Thoughts:
Did you know that temptation is NOT from God?  God doesn't even put you in circumstances where you can fail on purpose!  Remember, we live in a sinful and fallen world!  Don't let temptation (which is not a sin) give birth to a sin (verse 15)!  Instead, focus on the "new birth" that comes from a transforming relationship with Jesus.  Thank him for the "good and perfect gifts" he has given you.

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?James

Day 2 - August 21, 2014

Today's Reading: James 1:9-12 (NIV)

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.  ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Dan's Thoughts:
What the world tells us is important is actually a waste of time.  Getting as much money, stuff, popularity, or whatever it is that makes you "rich" (verse 2) is putting your trust in something temporary and unstable.  In fact (verse 3) it can wither away as quickly as the sun!

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

Day 1 - August 20, 2014

Today's Reading: James 1:2-8 (NIV)

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Dan's Thoughts:

This is way harder to live out than it is to read.  Basically, it's like James is saying that tough stuff in life has a purpose.  But it's hard to sense that purpose as you are going through it.  Verse 5 gives us permission to seek God's best for us in the midst of our circumstances, and for that, we should be grateful, and (as verse 6 states) have a ton of faith that God will meet us in our dark places!

Questions For Reflection:

1.  Which verse stuck out to me the most?  Why?

2.  What is God telling me through this passage?

3.  What transformation in my heart needs to take place because of what this passage means?

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