Day 16

James chapter 1 has so many good quotes. I don't even know where to begin. I want them all up on my bathroom mirror. 

I'm just going to point out my favorites that jumped out at me. 

"When tempted, no one should say 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, give birth to death."- James 1:13-15

"Every good and perfect gift  is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."-James 1:17

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for mans anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." -James 1:19-20

"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 a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does." -James 1:22-25

I could go into chapter 2..but it's too much. Another time. 

What do I say about those? They are already so "in-your-face" it's amazing. These are all passages that should be memorized and stuck in our head. 

What is the point unless you do it with the heart to listen and take in what it says to do, then going out and doing it.  Why should we think that just the mere "show" of reading it is good enough for God? He know our heart better than we do. He knows why we are reading it. He doesn't want you to meet with him half-heartedly because we know it's "what we should be doing." Instead we need to desire his word and search for HIS desires for us. We would do that with our boyfriends, spouses, best friends right? 

I know I've been lacking in this. We had a friend come over and he recently received Christ into his heart, and I found him reading the Bible 3 or more times a day. He is so hungry for Gods word and to learn more, but yet he's only a new christian. Why do we sometimes let go of that hunger? Shouldn't we be stronger when we have been seeking Christ longer?? Unfortunately no, because just like it said in verse 13 "each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown, give birth to death." We let our worldly desires take over to where we don't hear God as clearly. Luckily though, God allows us to notices (if we are willing and quick enough to listen) to catch this and run back into his arms.