Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to watch over orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. Truth to Learn The true outward expression of a Christian life is to care for the needs of others and not be...
James 1:26 – Tongue Control
If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Truth to Learn Controlling what we say and how we say it is a clear indication of the degree to which we are submitted to...
James 1:25 – Blessed Performance
But he who having looked closely into the perfect law of liberty and having continued looking closely, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Truth to Learn God will look favorably on the performance of those...
James 1:24 – Absentminded Professor
for he studied himself, has gone away, and immediately forgot what kind of person he was. Truth to Learn Hearing or reading God’s Word will have no effect on our lives unless we put it into practice. Behind the Words In the previous verse we looked at the word for...
James 1:23 – Studious Reflection
Because, if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man studying his natural face in a mirror; Truth to Learn We can learn a lot about God and about ourselves by looking intently into the Word of God. Behind the Words The...
James 1:22 – Perfect Practice
But become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Truth to Learn No one ever coined the phrase, “listening makes perfect.” That’s because it is only through practice that we improve on anything that we do. Behind the Words The word translated “become” is a form of...
James 1:21 – Discard Filth
Therefore having laid aside all filthiness and abundance of wickedness, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Truth to Learn We need to rid ourselves of our sinful thoughts and actions and let the Word of God grow in our hearts. Behind the Words...
James 1:20 – Bad Example
Truth to Learn We should not be easily angered because it does not show the world the type of godly example that we should be. Behind the Words In the previous verse we looked at the Greek word orgē, which refers to “violent passions.” It is most likely derived from...
James 1:19 – Ears Open, Mouth Closed, Without Anger
Know this, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; Truth to Learn Your hearing will do you much more good in your walk with God than your mouth will. Behind the Words There is a variant reading in the first part...
James 1:18 – New Birth
Having desired it, He brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be a certain first fruit of His creatures. Truth to Learn Our salvation is the greatest example of the goodness of God and His desire to give us good things. Behind the Words The words...
James 1:17 – God’s Perfect Gift
Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Truth to Learn God cannot be the source of our temptation because He only gives what is good. Behind the Words...
James 1:16 – Perfect Love
Do not be led astray, my beloved brethren. Truth to Learn Seek the truth and do not let yourself be led astray, because God loves you with a perfect love. Behind the Words The word translated “be led astray” is a form of planaō which means “to cause to roam...
James 1:15 – Death’s Birth
Then, desire having conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, having been completed, brings forth death. Truth to Learn Though we think of birth as the beginning of life, our unrestrained lusts produce a birth which results in death. Behind the Words The word translated “conceived” is a form of...
James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source
But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them. Truth to Learn We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin. Behind the Words James tells us that each...
James 1:14 – Temptation’s Source
But each one is tempted by his own desires, being drawn away and enticed by them. Truth to Learn We may want to blame someone or something else for our sinfulness, but each of us is to blame for our own sin. Behind the Words James tells us that each...
James 1:13 – Not From God
Let no one being tempted say, "I am tempted from God"; for God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one. Truth to Learn God is not the source of our temptation. When it does come, He wants us to grow in faith. And, even when we...
James 1:12 – Crowning Reward
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Truth to Learn Patiently enduring the trials of our lives will result in eternal rewards of far greater value than all of...
James 1:11 – Disappearing Riches
For the sun rose with a burning heat and the garden withered; its flower fell, and the beauty of its appearance completely perished. So the rich man also will be extinguished in his journeys. Truth to Learn This life and our possessions are only temporary. Do not be lifted up...
James 1:10 – Humble Wealth
but the rich one in his humbling, because like a flower of the garden he will pass away. Truth to Learn Riches cause pride and harm our relationship with God. Some day we will pass away and have to give an accounting to God. Behind the Words The word translated...
James 1:9 – Humble Exaltation
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, Truth to Learn Being poor and unimportant is humbling. As a Christian, you have been elevated to the position of a child of God. God’s children are neither unimportant or poor. Behind the Words The word translated “humble” is the word tapeinos...
James 1:8 – Single Focus
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Truth to Learn We must not get distracted from focusing on God and on Him alone. Behind the Words “Double-minded” is translated from dipsuchos which is a compound word made up of dis meaning “twice” and a form of psuche...
James 1:7 – Paternal Gifts
For do not let that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord; Truth to Learn God loves us more than any earthly father and wants to give us good things. Answers to our prayers are gifts from our Heavenly Father but they must be sought with complete faith....
James 1:6 – Doubtless Prayer
But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea being driven by the wind and tossed. Truth to Learn Wisdom is available from God for the asking but in order to receive we must believe God’s promise that He will...
James 1:5 – Wisdom Given
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who is giving liberally to all and not reproaching, and it will be given to him. Truth to Learn We all lack wisdom when we are in trials, yet all we need to do is ask God for it...
James 1:4 – Completely Whole
But let patience have its completing work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Truth to Learn God is constantly working on us to make us into a complete image of His Son. Don’t fight it, let it happen. Just remember, it’s not always easy or comfortable. Behind...
James 1:3 – Refined Perseverance
knowing that the proving of your faith brings about patience. Truth to Learn The Christian pathway is not an easy one; in fact, it is downright difficult, filled with potholes and uphill battles. But, instead of seeing these as indications of God’s displeasure, we should take delight in them. Behind...
James 1:2 – Joyful in Trials
My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, Truth to Learn Trials come to make us stronger Christians. They are not to be feared and avoided. They are to be embraced and endured. Behind the Words “Count” is translated from a form of the Greek word...
James 1:1 – A Slave’s Greeting
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings. Truth to Learn With salvation comes humility, not pride. Behind the Words The word translated “slave” is doulos, meaning “one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another.” This...