Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

1 Peter 1

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. v17

Three key points that I see here:
1. God WILL judge us
2. Our home is not an earthly one but in Heaven
3. We should live with the end in mind, knowing that God will judge us and we should be prepared

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a righteous judge, treating us fairly and often mercifully when we don't get what we deserve as we know the wages of sin is death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such mercy as I am often lazy and passive in light what You ask me to do...please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me live with the end in mind.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” v15

Peter is encouraging the early church in modern-day Turkey that they are to be set apart...to glorify God through what they do.

This verse which I am calling is out is sprinkled throughout the Bible:
- Leviticus 11:44
- Leviticus 19:2
- Ezekiel 36:23

First of all, we are made in God's image to glorify Him.  Second, we are called to being others to Him so others should desire God through what they see in us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are pure, holy and blameless...perfect.  All that You are, have done will do, is perfect.  Everything You have done for me and will do for me is perfect.  You know everything about me and what is good for me.  You love me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am weak, and I often do not glorify You through what I do.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be holy!  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of this cancer - thank You Jesus for the healing You have already provided!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. v16

Prayer IS powerful and effective, and we are to pray for ourselves and others.
- Luke 11
- Colossians 4
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
- Ephesians 6

Prayer is a means for us to talk to God and to intercede on behalf of others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that I can call to You anytime and anywhere and You will listen to my prayers...and You will answer..it may not be the answer I desire but You WILL answer...for Your glory and my good.  You have done so much good in my life - I think of how You have healed Lisa so far - praise God...and how You have reconciled John's marriage thus far - praise God!  You are an awesome God.  I pray for my brothers in Christ from BSF - for Kay to be healed and to have peace and encouragement to be healed of pre-cancerous cells and for her heart.  For Dan to be reconciled to his dad and for safety for his daughter as she travels alone to California.  For John to continue to reconciliation with his wife - but only through Your will and closeness to You.  For Denise and her family as they travel to Charlotte to be safe. Please lift all of these people up.  I know You have worked and continue to work powerfully in my life - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth Your efforts - it is only by Your grace alone.  I am weak and I often lean on my own understanding on not on You.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me PRAY continually and for my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

James 5

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. v10-11

There are many examples from scripture where prophets and others demonstrated patience in the face of suffering and I have seen with my own eyes brothers and sisters in my church.  God is always doing good in our lives and we must be patient for God to reveal the goodness of what we may see as suffering.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have brought much good out of difficult circumstances in my life and in the lives of those around me - You are amazing!  Thank You for how You have carried me and my burdens during these times and for blessing me!  I am not worth such love and blessing...I am weak and I worry, grumble, I am quick to anger and often impatient.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa, comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal her from this surgery and also of this cancer.  Please make the side effects of cancer go away...quickly.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me be patient and persevere.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

James 5

Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! v9

I often grumble about those around me - whether this is my own family, friends, or people I work with - how sinful!  I am no better!  The Bible tells me, beyond today's verse, that this is sinful:

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2

...

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13

...

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

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Instead - God wants us to love... John 13:34, 1 Peter 3:8, etc.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God that ONLY loves.  You have not and do not sin as You are pure, holy and blameless.  And You love me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus. I am not worth such love.  Please forgive me for my judging nature.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me love and not judge.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength and freedom from pain.  Please heal her of this cancer - forever.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” v14-15

James 4

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” v14-15

Lord, You are over everything - You reign!  I don't know what will happen tomorrow and I know that You hold my life and the lives of those around me in the palm of Your hands-for this I need not just forgiveness for my arrogance, but also for Your protection...

I do know also that You have great plans for me...help me place my hope and trust there.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

... 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God...full of love, peace, patience, kindness, compassion, etc. (and more) for me!  How awesome...this despite my sin.  You know it all yet You love anyway.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am weak and I worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith and become more like You.  Help me place my faith and trust in Your plans alone.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve, Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Please heal Kay, Robert, Lacey, Warren's wife and others that need Your healing....give them all peace and encouragement that You can and will heal them.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.

James 4

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. v11

We are told that we are to love others as Jesus loves us - and so this goes without saying - we are not to judge our brothers and sisters.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love, mercy, compassion, etc. for me even though You know everything about me, including my sin.  You are so patient!  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for me lack of action - You call me to action and many times I am not in action - please forgive me!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort and strength as she recovers from this surgery.  Praise God for the successful surgery yesterday - You are awesome God!  Please heal and cure Lisa (quickly!) of this cancer and its side effects from the medication.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me be in action. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

James 4

Come near to God and he will come near to you. v8

Who does not want God to be near to them?  Scripture elsewhere also talks about this: 
Jeremiah 29:12-13 > Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 
Proverbs 8:17 > I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
Lamentations 3:25 > The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.

Jesus - I DO desire to be near to You and I do want Your goodness. I have experienced this richly in my life and I want more of it!

My Prayer: Lord You are the rock star of rock stars!  There is no God like You and I love You. I need You desperately in my life - to cleanse me, to protect me, to encourage me, teach me, etc.  Help me Jesus!  I know You have blessed me beyond what I deserve already and for this I am deeply grateful.  I am not worth such blessings - I am impatient, quick to anger, etc. Please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me continuously seek You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort and strength.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Please heal Lisa of this cancer permanently - now!  Help this surgery go successfully.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

James 3

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. v17

James warns us about evil and sin such as envy and selfish ambition.  Scripture elsewhere warns us of similar pursuits:

Proverbs 19:21 > Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

We should instead focus on pursuing and loving God with all of heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Deuteronomy 6:5 > Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Matthew 22:37 > Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

To reinforce James' claim that wisdom from heaven is pure:  
Luke 1:37 > For no word from God will ever fail. 

Focus on God and His Desires and Word, not on self or earthly pursuits.

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God, capable of all things, creator of all things, all knowing, and You chose me, dying for me a gruesome death so that I would not be slave to my sin and have eternity in heaven with You...how awesome are You!  I am not worthy of what You have done for me and continue to do for me...I am broken and I sin.  I worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me follow Your desires alone!  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength and comfort.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. v9-10

As a follow up to my post yesterday on the topic of taming the tongue, today my post reinforces yesterday's referenced scripture with an emphasis on how our speech can serve to both worship and please God but also for great harm...I am afraid too much of my speech is used for harm.  God please help me and those whom I have hurt.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and of course You are ALL of the fruits of the Spirit and You came to earth, choosing me, suffering and dying for me, knowing everything about me.  What a great God You are!  Thank You for Your incredible patience, compassion, mercy, etc.  Please forgive me for my harsh speech towards others...help me overcome such sin and turn from it and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Encourage her and give her peace about her surgery tomorrow - help the surgery go well and be successful.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Provide us with assistance during the surgery and after as Lisa recovers.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

James 3

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. v6

Indeed, words can be fraught with harm and hurt so we must be careful - as much as anybody I know this as I have been on the delivering end of harmful and hurtful words.

On the other hand:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

...

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and Your Word is perfect, never harmful or hurtful - always for good, and it will never fail!  How awesome a God are You!  I am blessed beyond description to have such a God - a God who chose me!  Thank You Jesus.  Thank You also for Your patience, mercy, compassion, etc. Please forgive me for my neglect of You and for my focus on my own comfort instead.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me use my tongue wisely.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help this surgery go successfully!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. v26

Building on what he wrote in James 1 (see post here) faith and action work hand in hand.  The examples provided such as Abraham and Rahab are illustrative and clearly reinforce the key message - be in action, not only to reinforce understanding of scripture but also to demonstrate faith.  Spiritual disciplines work together and if we lack one our drive towards spiritual maturity and greater faith is incomplete.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love (indescribably so!) and mercy for me...all of this knowing everything about me, including my brokenness and sin!  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love and mercy because of my sin...I know the wages of sin is death and that is what I deserve yet You have mercy.  Thank You again Jesus!  I need You desperately in my life - I often fail to be content.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me more fully and completely practice spiritual disciplines.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Thank You Jesus for a good appointment with the surgeon-praise You for the great news and progress driving out this cancer!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

James 2

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  v10

James uses favoritism of the rich vs the poor as an example of favoritism of people but he also mentions favoritism or "cherry-picking" of the Bible as another form of favoritism.  Neither is appropriate and he also lays out the consequences - we become "guilty of breaking all of it"...a serious matter indeed and judgement awaits.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God indeed and You see us as pure, holy and blameless in Your sight - You have such mercy for us!  Thank You Jesus.  You bless me also...beyond what I deserve.  I need You desperately in my life because I am broken...full of sin.  Help me Jesus.  Please forgive me for my grumbling and complaining...I know I need to be content in my circumstances yet I am often not.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love (and see) others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me lead and serve Lisa Zach and Dustin.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal her of this cancer.  Praise You for how You have shrunk this tumor and started to give Lisa some strength back.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

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. v27

James knows that although we are from this world we should not be of this world, echoing what is said elsewhere in scripture (John 15:19, 1 John 2:15-16, Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 2:11).  We are foreigners and strangers on this earth, with a home in heaven.  God created us of His own image to be holy and blameless in His sight.

My Prayer: Lord, only You are pure, holy and blameless.  I know that You see me that way but I know that I am broken and I sin and I desperately need You in my life.  You have transformed my heart and life and I have seen Your hand of miracles work in me and in others.  Thank You for coming to save me.  Please forgive me for not being content.  Help me Jesus overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Help me focus on heavenly rewards and on glorifying You and not on earthly rewards and desires.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength and freedom from pain and discomfort.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Please make this scan clear of all cancer and make surgery less of a need or none at all. I know You can do this.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply this message today and every day.

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 someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

James 1

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 someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. v22-24

James wants us to be in action, specifically in the context of our scripture reading - and this appears to be for two key reasons: (1) the act in of itself and its role glorifying God, (2) the application of our scripture reading will help us reinforce both head and heart learning of the scripture - on this latter point Jesus was able to remain pure, holy, and blameless in part because of His perfect understanding of scripture (Matthew 4, Luke 4).  I am in dire need of a spiritual discipline that applies scripture so as to reinforce the learning.  I need to defeat sin in my life.  I know Jesus will save but I know also that I can be more successful in beating sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, pure, holy and blameless.  I am not - I am filthy and in need of cleansing.  You have been patient with me, merciful, gentle, etc. and not punishing me with what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus for Your mercy and patience...and Your blessings.  I am not deserving of the many blessings You provide. Please forgive me for my lustful actions and my indiscretion...help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me apply my scripture and reinforce my learning.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her cancer.  Please help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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.

James 1

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. v21

Anger is another form of complaining, which is of course a sin (see here, 1 Cor 10:10, Phil 2:14-15).  I am to be content and as James puts it, "humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have me right where You want me and I know You are doing great things in my life and You have already done great things in my life!  Hallelujah!  What a great God You are.  I have been blessed well beyond what I deserve...thank You Jesus!  I do thank You, and I desperately need You in my life to continue to work in my life...and also for forgiveness.  I am way too quick to anger and impatient (although You are a patient with me).  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please help me humbly accent my circumstances as Your will.  Help me be content with You and Your word because that is all that I need!  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength and freedom from pain and discomfort.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.