I met these AWESOME people through my job/boyfriend and I am SO thankful that I did b/c they are perhaps the nicest people I have EVER met in my entire life. You can just see God working through them. It's pretty flippin awesome. :) So anyhoo, I have started going over to their house to have dinner with them once a week and Jen and I have started studying through the Bible. This is something I am new at but I am beginning to LOVE.
We started in the book James and so far its AMAZING. I read some really interesting things tonight and wanted to share them with you on here so bare with me. :)
First you will need to know that the book James is actually written by Jesus's brother, James, and he is speaking to the early persecuted Jewish Christians and all followers of Jesus, and the main theme of the book is, FAITH WITHOUT ACTION IS NOT REAL FAITH AT ALL.
The first chapter starts off with James explaining to the persecuted Christians that he understands that they are all stuggling and that they are in a tough spot but that they should try to find the joy in their struggling b/c in the end their stuggle and hardship will make them stronger. He says,
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks he must believe and not doubt, b/c he who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
(James 1:2-7)
This is totally awesome. James is saying that we should try to find the good in the bad b/c in the end we will grow from it and that is the beauty in hardship. He also says that if you need wisdom, seek God, he will give you answers but you have to be ready to hear his answer and know that there will be one.
Later he goes on to talk about listening and doing, and this just happens to be my FAVORITE part so far. He says,
"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. 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.Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS."
(James 1:19-22)
So many people are so quick to get angry about silly things, or to throw up a wall when it comes to religion but God specifically says to be quick to listen, and slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Jesus was an excellent listener, and if we are to be like him, we should listen.
My two favorite verses so far are:
"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 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"
(James 1:26-27)
These two lines are AMAZZZINNNGG. I know a few people who can stand infront of a crowd and say so many amazing things about Christ that literally bring tears to my eyes and run chills down my spine, but as soon as the crowd has gone away they are completely different people. Do you think that behind closed doors Jesus did the things he told us not to do? Do you think he said vulgar things, made obscene gestures, judged, hated, or distrespected other people? NO. Jesus was a perfect man. So when we speak great things about him and his word and make ourselves a witness to the world, and then turn around and do the opposite we are pretty much spitting in his face. Respect Jesus, respect others, and respect yourselves.
The other verse I love is:
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
(James 2:17)
I feel like we as "Christians" can talk the talk but most of us arent willing to "walk the walk". There are SO many things we should be DOING to show God's love to people but we dont. We wake up, live how we want, go to church, pretend we have it all figured out, and that is how we live. We pass homeless people on the streets and think, "they did it to themselves" or "they are just going to by beer or drugs or WHATEVER". The truth is we're selfish. We have turned our backs on what we have been called to do. We are so caught up in our own lives and feelings that we have forgotten about the others who need us. WE NEED TO WAKE UP, TAKE A STEP BACK, AND START LIVING FOR GOD. Start loving those who need love, caring for the ones who need it, and helping those who need help.
"Send us to the nations, to the broken, lead us to surrender, we will go."
God's leading us to surrender, so quit fighting him. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
That's all for tonight.
"24'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?" -Deuteronomy 3:24 . . He has begun to show you, His servant His greatness!!!
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