James 1:1-27.
James 1.1-27
"From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings
to the twelve tribes scattered all over the world.
Faith and Wisdom
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that
you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn
to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not
lacking in anything. If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God,
and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for
asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not
doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a
storm. - If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind,
and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you
anything at all.
Poor People and Rich People
Any of God's people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so
highly of them. But any who are rich should be glad when God makes
them humble. Rich people will disappear like wild flowers scorched by
the burning heat of the sun. The flowers lose their blossoms, and
their beauty is destroyed. That is how the rich will disappear, as
they go about their business.
Trials and Temptations
God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being
tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards
everyone who loves him. Don't blame God when you are tempted! God
cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others.
We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our
desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us
dead. Don't be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift
comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens.
He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. He
wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true
message to give us new birth.
Hearing and Obeying
My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to
get angry. If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things
that God wants done. You must stop doing anything immoral or evil.
Instead be humble and accept the message that is planted in you to
save you. Obey God's message! Don't fool yourselves by just listening
to it. If you hear the message and don't obey it, you are like people
who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as
soon as they leave. But you must never stop looking at the perfect
law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if
you listen and obey, and don't just hear and forget. If you think you
are being religious, but can't control your tongue, you are fooling
yourself, and everything you do is useless. Religion that pleases God
the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and
widows and not let this world make you evil."
God bless you.
"From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings
to the twelve tribes scattered all over the world.
Faith and Wisdom
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that
you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn
to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not
lacking in anything. If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God,
and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for
asking. But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not
doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a
storm. - If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind,
and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you
anything at all.
Poor People and Rich People
Any of God's people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so
highly of them. But any who are rich should be glad when God makes
them humble. Rich people will disappear like wild flowers scorched by
the burning heat of the sun. The flowers lose their blossoms, and
their beauty is destroyed. That is how the rich will disappear, as
they go about their business.
Trials and Temptations
God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being
tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards
everyone who loves him. Don't blame God when you are tempted! God
cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others.
We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our
desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us
dead. Don't be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift
comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens.
He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. He
wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true
message to give us new birth.
Hearing and Obeying
My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to
get angry. If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things
that God wants done. You must stop doing anything immoral or evil.
Instead be humble and accept the message that is planted in you to
save you. Obey God's message! Don't fool yourselves by just listening
to it. If you hear the message and don't obey it, you are like people
who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as
soon as they leave. But you must never stop looking at the perfect
law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if
you listen and obey, and don't just hear and forget. If you think you
are being religious, but can't control your tongue, you are fooling
yourself, and everything you do is useless. Religion that pleases God
the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and
widows and not let this world make you evil."
God bless you.
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