The Book of James: 4:1-3 (NLT)
Welcome back to our daily study in the book of James! I hope you have been enjoying this and feel free to invite friends and family who might find this helpful as well this year with the invite link here: Invitation Link
Need to catch up? We got you covered, simply go to the link below which will take you to our blog where all past bible studies will be. With that said let’s get started on day 20!
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The Book of James (NLT): This book offers practical guidance on living a godly life, including instruction on how to handle temptation and overcome adversity. It is the 51st of the Bible book located in the New Testament containing 5 chapters and a total of 108 verses.
Author: James, the half-brother of Jesus
Theme: Practical guidance for living a faithful Christian life, with a focus on the importance of good deeds and living a life of faith. In addition to the themes of good deeds and living a life of faith, the Book of James also addresses issues such as temptation, humility, and the dangers of wealth and pride.
Timeline: The Book of James is believed to have been written in the mid-to-late first century AD
Structure: The Book of James is a letter, consisting of five chapters. It is written in a concise, straightforward style and is full of practical wisdom and guidance.
Recipients: The letter is addressed to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" (James 1:1), which likely refers to Jewish Christians living in the diaspora (outside of Palestine).
Importance: The Book of James is considered one of the most practical books in the New Testament and is often referred to as the "Proverbs of the New Testament." It offers valuable insights and guidance for Christians of all ages on how to live a faithful and obedient life.
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Scripture Insights:
Comparison is a common struggle that many of us face in our daily lives. It can manifest itself in different ways, such as feeling envy or resentment towards others when they experience success or happiness. Have you ever shared good news with someone, only to have it met with a negative response? Or have you ever felt a twinge of jealousy when a friend or loved one shared good news about their own life? These are examples of how comparison can cloud our thoughts and relationships.
Whenever we desire things or gifts God wants us to go to Him and ask Him in faith. When we ask we should check our motivations as well. If we are looking for a relationship or potential spouse, are we asking God to give us someone else’s girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse or asking God to bring the right person for us? God’s will is for us to be healed, have purpose, have success, and an abundant life. He also gives us His commandments to love God first and then our neighbor as ourselves. If we love your neighbor, will we steal from them, commit adultery with our neighbor’s spouse, talk trash about them, lie to them, wish bad things on them?
God has a great plan and path specifically for you. He wants you to follow His plan in this world which he planned in advance for you. (Read Ephesians 2:10) - I know sometimes it’s hard to see what that might be as you go through the everyday challenges of life trying to figure out what gives you purpose, passion, and true fulfillment. Consider this, If you believe in faith that God has a great plan and unique purpose for your life, wouldn’t it also make sense to spend time with Him everyday in fellowship so He can reveal to You how He wants to use You?
As my pastor at church pointed out last year, "God is talking to you far more than you are listening." God speaks to us through various means, such as reading the Bible, dreams, visions, other people, and signs, but the noise and distractions of the world can make it difficult to hear His voice. To overcome this challenge, it's essential to protect your time with God, where you can focus on being present with Him and feeling His presence. It’s very hard to experience God’s presence in your life when you are so focused on your future or your past. You then also have all the people in your life who will tell you what they think about your life and what you should do which can cause unwanted anxiety and sometimes lead you to chase things with the wrong motives. You also have the people in your life who will tell you what they think and what you should do which can cause unwanted anxiety and sometimes lead you to chase things with the wrong motives. Remember to ask God for His help in all you do with faith knowing that He has your best in mind.
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Today's Prayer
Prayer: Heavenly Father, continue to help me on my path to having the right motives behind everything I do. I want to do what is pleasing to You and not from my own selfish desires. Continue to do Your good work in me so that I can honor You and be a light to others. Cover me with favor today and love so that I can be blessed and on the right path to fulfilling Your great plan for my life in Jesus name Amen.
God Bless,
Dayne
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