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.

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

With James being referred to as the "bossiest book of the Bible", it is not surprising that James packs his letter with many commands charging us with "do's" and "don'ts".  Here, we have James charging us to avoid slandering others.  Of course, we are to love and forgive others as God loves and forgives us, so this clearly includes judging and slandering others.

James is not the only one to charge us with avoiding judgement, slander, and gossip - check here for other books with a similar message.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and forgives me - and there is no one else who can do what You do for me - You alone are God and I am grateful for what You have done and continue to do for me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  I slander and I gossip - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

James 4

Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. v4

All of us believers live in the world but the challenge of course is not to become OF the world in the sense that we want to avoid "conform[ing] to the patterns of this world" (Romans 12:2).

The anti-dote lies in our desire to come near to God so that He can transform our heart and life from the inside out.  James indicates as much in verses 7-8:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who came to nail my sin...and the sin of all humanity, to the cross...You willingly laid down Your live for me so that I would no longer be slave to sin - thank You Jesus that You did this and SO MUCH MORE for me.  I am grateful.  Of course I am undeserving.  I sin...daily...sometimes much more than I often am willing to admit.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. v3

In this chapter, James gets right into what just about everyone struggles with - envy and selfishness (v1-4).  Core to much of our sin starts with envy and selfishness, and on a related note (thanks to DesiringGod.com for this great post), our pride often leads us to believe that we can be "excepted" from our sin that stems from envy and selfishness.

We MUST remain humble and recognize how sinful we ALL really are and this should draw us in the arms of Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who came to nail my sin...and the sin of all humanity, to the cross...You willingly laid down Your live for me so that I would no longer be slave to sin - thank You Jesus that You did this and SO MUCH MORE for me.  I am grateful.  Of course I am undeserving.  I sin...daily...sometimes much more than I often am willing to admit.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  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. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. v17-18

James covers several topics in chapter3, including introductory remarks on how teachers are held to a higher standard of behavior than others, and how "the tongue also is a fire...".  Indeed James words and similar scripture have pricked my heart many times during study and I've posted about it here.

In v13-18 James covers envy, selfish ambition and earthly wisdom that "unspiritual" and "demonic".  He writes about how envy and selfish ambition lead to "disorder and every evil practice" (v16).

We need to avoid chasing temptations from the prince of this age and instead chase Jesus Christ.

V17 and the promise in v18 give believers hope so that we don't feel the need to chase the
temptations from the prince of this age.  Scripture gives us so much hope, including gems such as:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who HAS FILLED ME!  Thank You Jesus!  My cup overflows.  I am not deserving for how You have so richly blessed me.  I gossip, worry, and have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  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

While our approach to the Old Testament ceremonial law has undergone a "dramatic change", all of scripture, including the Old Testament moral law, applies.  God has roles for each of us to play and He has expectations for His children.  Yet God does not want to compel us into service - just like He wants us to be cheerful givers (see 2 Corinthians 9:7), God wants us to serve Him with gladness.

Similarly, we are not to grumble and complain.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me a new heart and new life - freedom indeed.  I know You are not done with me yet but I am grateful how You have transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. v12-13

Our lives are filled by moments when we make judgements and our judgements precede our actions.  We must first be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we can limit those judgements which prevent mercy.  Believers are all granted mercy and forgiveness by Christ and He tells us to love and forgive others as the Lord loves and forgives us (John 13:34, Colossians 3:13).  

James references "the law that gives freedom" and I am reminded of John Piper's awesome post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who forgives me...You are SO full of mercy and compassion for me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such love.  I too often judge without mercy.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

James 1

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. v13-14

MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates that that the Book of James has a "practical emphasis" and includes "direct pungent statements on wise living".  First we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.  We do have free will and this is governed by our thoughts and desires, and the extent to which we have been transformed by the renewing of our mind. 

My Prayers: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I have seen what You have done and I am blessed.  Thank You for helping me with my patience, anger, etc.  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.