Devotional Time with God

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20

When I see someone who is sinning, or making mistakes that he/she should not have, I must attempt to correct it because he/she may be heading into destructive behavior or even away from God. This is something that must be handled with some delicate balance. Today’s society is not open to Christ’s rebuke. This world longs for love and it has been looking for it in the wrong places. Grey areas become a “normal” thing, nothing is completely right, nor completely wrong.

God is the truth. His words are the truth. I need to be aware of that. I need to proclaim that, so others may benefit from the saving grace of God.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

Humility is the key to success while learning God’s word and doing what He says. Humility is the way God wants me to conduct myself.  He wants to bless me richly and I must do it without a selfish intention.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13

Does knowing God’s word and understanding what He wants is all I need to know?  Of course not.  Firstly, God has a much better purpose for me. The only way I can fulfill this purpose is by doing His will. I do the work, not to get as much credit for myself.  The work needs to be done with God’s love, not mean spirited, nor with complaints. The work needs to be done with the knowledge that it’s God’s command, not my selfish desire to be seen as wise.

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

James 2:17–18

Simply put, faith without work is no faith at all!  I have to show my faith by doing what God told me to do!

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:22–25

I try to read my bible every day. I sometimes listen to it through the audio version, or from the pastors at church. Sometimes, I convinced myself that it’s all I need. If I listened or read it, that’s all there is to it.

But all this time, I’ve been fooling myself. I have to apply what I know!  It’s not enough that I read the word – I have to do what it says!  I can imagine seeing blemishes on my face, or dirt on my clothes, but I do nothing to clean it.  Same thing for my life. I need to clean the sin. I need to stop doing things that do not glorify God. I need to obey God’s laws, because He wants to protect me. He wants to bless me.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19–20

Pastor Rick once said, God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should be listening more than speaking. This verse additionally tells me to not get angry too easily.  Instead, I should be listening more intently, with understanding and compassion.  Then I may talk with kindness, and the very last thing I should do is get angry.

Should I get angry at all? The Message version of the Bible summarized it like this:

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

I should not get angry with evil intentions. If I find myself wanting to speak or act in anger, I must let God be the one doing the talking and acting. God does not react in evil ways. He’s the author of life and the knows everyone’s future. He’s the only perfect solution to any problem.

I plant myself with God’s word, so I may yield fruitful life and relationships. Self-righteous anger is not right.  God-centered solution is what I need, with strength under pressure.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

God’s word is like a weapon. A weapon against evil.  A weapon against temptation. a weapon against all things that do not agree with God’s purpose for my life.  I have to keep God’s word in my heart, so I may use it, at moments notice, to protect myself against the devil’s attacks. I need to have God’s word to help me guide my way through this treacherous world.

James 1:2-4 said I must have perseverance during the trials of my faith, and the best way to do it is using God’s word.  His words also helps me grow spiritually and lets me fulfill God’s purposes in my life.

In Mark 16:1-20, the Bible described Jesus’ resurrection and the message that Jesus gave to His disciples to preach the gospel to everyone.

It’s clear Jesus’ command is to tell the good news to everyone that Jesus is God and He has risen from the dead.  It’s a clear message, even the eye witnesses accounts of two women, Mary and Salome, were written in the scripture, in an important event such as Jesus’ empty tomb discovery and the angel speaking to them. Jesus’ resurrection must be known to everyone.

I praise Jesus for His resurrection, for it’s the promise that I hold there’s more to life than living on this earth. There’s a heaven to look forward to, being with God, forever.

In Mark 15:33-39, Jesus was hung on the cross and the people were still not convinced He’s God.  But, Jesus bore the ugliness of this world and father God in heaven couldn’t even look at Him. Then, as Jesus always do, He forgave humanity, even during His last breaths.  When earthquake hit, then humanity realized their mistake and acknowledge Jesus as the son of God.

I read this passage and acknowledge that my sin I have to confess is the sin of doubt.  I had moments when I doubted my faith. I had moments when I question when/if God would  help me. I even had moments when I doubted my very own existence!

But, I’m rest assured, by God’s words, that I have a purpose in this life. I hold on to God’s promise of forgiveness and eternal life.  I look forward to giving Him all I got, for I am His, anyway. Jesus is the greatest example of this. He wasn’t afraid to die because He knew He had a greater purpose in His short life on earth.  He knew His father’s plan to rescue humanity from the burden of sin.

I pray Jesus, help me understand your words. Help me build my faith and strengthen it. You are the son of God, and I will follow your examples. I lay down my life so I may attain the higher purpose that you’ve set before me. Guide me, Lord, until it is finished.  Amen.

In Mark 14:3-9, Jesus defended a woman, against criticism from the people, for pouring expensive perfume on Him.

This is my sin, also: I judge people too harshly.  Either by how they look, their actions, or their beliefs (or lack of it).

Jesus always look at the heart and the intention of a person. That’s the truth. He knew what’s going to happen, so He knows what’s right.  I don’t know how, and I do make mistakes in determining people’s intentions.

Jesus commands that I put Him first, that means giving my best – not scraps, or seconds. I keep His promise that He will give me more for what I’ve given Him.  I must put Jesus on the highest regard. I must not take my focus from Him.

Each day, I pray that I can give Jesus the best that I have. God’s blessings are more important than worldly ones. I praise Him every day for that!