PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY

Newsletter 270 November 20, 2011

James 1:19-25 King James Version

One commentary, I consulted, suggests that this must of necessity be the first New Testament book to be written, and that James, the half brother of Jesus and a pillar of the church in Jerusalem, wrote it for the benefit of the Christians who had been scattered from Jerusalem as a result of the persecutions under Herod Agrippa 1, which followed the death of Stephen. Josephus, the Jewish historian, said that James was martyred in the year 62 a.d. That would have been eight years before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 a.d.

James deals with the practical day-to-day need of these scattered Christians from the Jerusalem church. I think of it as being a “handbook” where the letters of Paul to the churches went into greater depth and detail for the churches that had by that time developed specific problems. Both, in perfect agreement, deal with the needs of the church of their greater acquaintance.

SWIFT TO HEAR - SLOW TO SPEAK

That means that we need to be good listeners, but not to jump into a conversation with our ideas until we are sure of them. One of my professors used to say, never say “I think.” No one wants to know what you think, but be positive about what you know to be true. We know God’s word is true, so, use the word of God, but if someone does not understand it as you, don’t get angry about it. You can not change a person with angry words.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

(1 John 2:21, Acts 1:15, James 1:2, James 1:16, James 2:1, James 2:5, James 2:14, James 3:1, James 3:10, James 4:11, James 5:12, James 5:19, Proverbs10:19, Proverbs 17:27, Proverbs 16:32, Ecclesiastes 7:9)

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Angry words, won’t convict a person who does not want to believe something.

(Matthew 5:22, Ephesians 4:26)

BOLSTER YOUR THOUGHTS WITH THE WORD

I have seen many old church homes that have been bolstered physically
to keep them from crumbling. Likewise, let us “back up” our faith with the Word.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

One version says, “putting aside all filthiness, and all that remains of wickedness” of which the commentary compares this line as one would put aside all his dirty clothes and put on clean. That of course means we must put off our old sinful thoughts and ways, and replace them with clean and pure. The way to change a habit is to replace it with a new one. It does not work to stop sinning, if you don’t replace with other actions and thoughts.

BECOME DOERS OF THE WORD

The Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10) should never be replaced with self-centered activities. Hearing is good, but we are just fooling ourselves if we allow that to be our only commitment, faith is linked with action. Faith and works are twins that are always found together.

(Ephesians 4:22, 1 Peter 2:1, Ephesians 1:13, 1 Peter 1:22)

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

(Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:46-49, Romans 2:13, James 1:22-25, James 2:14-20)

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

(1 Corinthians 13:12)

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

(John 8:32, Romans 8:2, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 6:2, James 2:12, 1 Peter 2:16, John 13:7)
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

20th. Sunday – Ezekiel 35, 36, James 3, Proverbs 28:1-14
21st. Monday – Ezekiel 37, 38, James 4. Psalm 130
22nd. Tuesday – Ezekiel 39-40:1-31 James 5, Psalm 131
23rd. Wednesday - Ezekiel 40:32-41:1-28, 1 Peter 1, Psalm 132
24th. Thursday - Ezekiel 42, 43, 1 Peter 2, Proverbs 28:15-28
25th. Friday - Ezekiel 44, 45, 1 Peter 3, Psalm 133
26th. Saturday - Ezekiel 46, 47, 1 Peter 4, Psalm 134

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
- James 3:24

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http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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Lines That Make You Smile

1. Being 'over the hill' is much better than being under it!

2. Wrinkled Was NOT One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up!

3. Procrastinate Now!

4. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

5. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

6. A journey of a thousand miles must, begin with a cash advance.

READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
7. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

8. He who dies with the most toys, is nonetheless DEAD.

9. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.

10. Ham and eggs...A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.