“For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool” (James 2:2-3)

This does happen.  I have seen it with my own eyes.  And I’ve also known that in many cases, the one with much money has it because they hold on to it closely.  The rich are usually not the primary givers in a church, the ordinary faithful are.  But this principle deceives the immature and weak in faith.  Do not be impressed with outward appearance but live in the truth that God is  impartially God of all.

We watch the news and the rich and famous tell us what the right things are to wear.  We are told that we too can live a glamorous life if we do the right things.  Certain people talk and we listen.  We look down our noses at the ordinary people and think more highly of some folks than we ought.  Loving your neighbor means loving all your neighbors.  Be led by the goodness of Christ and not the tinsel of this world.

Lord, teach me to see through the nonsense of this world.  Who cares who has and who does not have. Look for character, not status. Lead me in Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that You have come to free us from being trapped by the outward things so that we may be led by You inwardly to become children of the Heavenly Father.  Amen.

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism” (James 2:1).

It is not about you.  None of this is about you.  That you are aware and realize that some things are important and others are not is God’s gift to you.  But you did not choose when, where, or in what circumstances to be born.  You are here and you have the opportunity to look to the Lord and ask of Him why He created you and what purpose He would like you to fulfill.

Lord, You are the only One who knows all things.  In your hands are the answers to all questions and the truth of creation.  Help me to learn, Lord, and to live into this life You have given me, doing what You would have me do.  Lead me to understand that we are whom we are and that our circumstances are as you have allowed them to be.  In Your hands are all things and in You is all hope.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the captives into liberty.  You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me according to Your purposes to live into the true life which is mine through grace.  Help me to overcome the obstacles of thinking this world’s circumstances are too difficult so that I may be at peace, now and always abiding in You.  Amen.

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27).

Interpret this and you will hear what James has already said.  He is not saying that we have to be all things to all people.  We should do what is right in the sight of God.  Are there those in need in Your fellowship?  Then help them.  Are there children who look to the Lord, but parents are in the way?  Then mentor them.  The Lord will lead you.  Go where the Lord leads you and do as He directs.

Lord, all around me are those in need.  There are many needs.  Guide me Lord to live into the life You have called me to.  Help me understand that You have given the words of eternal life so that I may be guided by You in the way You are setting before me.  You are purposeful in all You do and there are appointments You have set before me this day.  Help me to see them and meet them.

Lord Jesus, it is clear that You met each day heading toward doing what needed to be done.  You let nothing distract You from heading to the cross.  Help me to see the eternal life You promise and then meet whatever You give me to do today so that I can learn faithfulness.  Help me, Jesus, so that I may overcome the obstacles that will come in order to learn faithfulness in all of my ways and practice them throughout each day You give me.  Amen.

“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

God created the universe with His Word.  We have been given the gift of speech.  In all you say, guard yourself.  As a rudder guides a ship, so the tongue guides the mouth.  The word in the mind leads to the word that comes over the tongue.  Do not underestimate the power of the tongue.  With small twists of the truth, the devil deceived Eve and sin came into the world.  Guard your lips and speak only what is pleasing to the Lord.

Lord, You know where I slip up and the old Adam comes falling out.  Teach me to guard my tongue.  Teach me to think carefully and say those things which are pleasing in Your sight.  Teach me to meditate upon Your word.  Your word and wickedness cannot occupy the same place.  Lead me, Lord, to learn from You how to be godly and act according to Your Word.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have come to lead the way for all who believe.  Guide me, dear Lord, in knowing how to think and speak in such a way that I do not cause myself or others to stumble.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of life You have come to establish.  You are the author of my faith and You know what You are creating in me.  Show me how to walk along with You as the Holy Spirit transforms me.  Amen.

 “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).

The supposed legalism of James is completely set aside by one word: liberty.  The law of liberty is that which is needed to complete us.  We are free to do as we please.  However, if we are in the Lord, then we will do what is pleasing to Him because of the love that transforms us and reigns in our hearts.  The one who hears and does not abide  by it neither loves, nor lives in liberty, but is still in rebellion.

Lord, the struggle still goes on inside of me.  Help me to understand that You have come and set me free.  Truly free.  Lead me in the liberty which is mine so that I would now and forever be guided by Your love and Your goodness.  Help me to live in Your love, in order that I would do all in the command You have given us to love all our neighbors.  Lead me where I need to go so that I may be blessed in You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set us free from the law which has condemned the sin in me.  You have perfectly atoned for me so that I would live in the liberty which is mine through You that I may do what is right and good.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of righteousness and help me be one who does what You ask me to do.  Guide me now and always in the way of everlasting life in You.  Amen.

“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was” (James 1:23-24).

Someone who is very good at what they do has become that way through repetition and reinforcement.  You form the habit by practicing it and then operate from the habit.  It’s that way for all of us.  Those who try to cheat only end up fooling themselves.  We need to learn godly habits and that happens only when we put these things into effect.  Come then and learn how to practice your Christianity so that you may react in godly ways.

Lord, I do know this, for from those things I learned in school, such as math or spelling words all the way to the things I enjoy doing for recreation, I have learned through repeating the same thing over and over again.  Teach me to live into the life to which You have called me by putting into practice the way of Jesus.  No matter what it takes, help me to learn how to practice my faith by being intentional.

Lord Jesus, You taught us to go to the Father and constantly be in prayer.  You have given us Your word and the instructions are pretty simple; trust in the Lord and do good.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of living life so that I would now and always be guided by You and the way You have set before me.  Guide me to learn good habits by looking to You and putting into practice the things You teach me.  Help me to become more like You each day.   Amen.

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).

There are those who make a law of this.  Please do not.  But hear what it says in the context of what has been said.  If you have faith, it is going to be evident.  There are many who come to church, listen, and then go about their business seemingly unchanged.  Do not be like that.  Be someone who puts into action what you have heard.  The Word of God is true.  Listen and act upon His word.

Lord, You know where I have heard, but the words have not fallen into my heart.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would put into action the way and truth of Your Word.  Lead me into being someone who follows up what I hear with action.  Guide me in all goodness to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Show me how to act as one who lives in ways which are pleasing to You.

Lord Jesus, You have come as the One who will show the way.  You were constantly in action.  Step by step, You showed and told us how to live life.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way You know I need to go.  Help me understand that in You alone is all hope.  You will guide me to become a person of action with my faith evident for all to see.  Lead me, Lord, where You know I need to go and grant me grace to follow.  Amen.

“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

In this simple phrase, there is nothing the faithful can disagree with, but everything in the world the wicked hate.  To set aside is to give up.  To set aside is to acknowledge that God is not just your co-pilot.  To set aside is to truly live the first commandment and see that God is above all other things in your life.  To set wickedness aside is to repent and be saved by receiving His grace.  Set these things aside and look to the Lord to save you from your sin.

I want to think that I am okay the way I am.  But I am haughty and full of pride.  Lead me, Lord, away from this state of wickedness and into the life to which You have called me to live in grace.  There is filthiness in me.  There is an attitude that needs to be removed.  Remove it.  Lord, even in saying this, I am telling You what to do.  Do in me what You know needs to be done.  You are my Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, save me from myself.  I am a wretched, conceited, anxious, angry ball of whatever that does not know how to give up my sins.  Guide me, Lord, the way You know I need to be going.  Lead me, Lord, the way You know I need to be led.  You have promised to save me.  Save me from myself and whatever else You deem necessary.  Help me to not argue with You or Your Word, but instead learn to humbly submit to You, my Lord and Master.  Amen.

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” James 1:19-20).

The anger of man, not the anger of God.  But for you, it is important to focus on the first.  What power do you have to do anything?  What does your anger accomplish?  Is it not mostly that you are being reminded that you are powerless?  Be slow to act in anger and think about what the Lord has said.  Know that He alone knows what is right and good.  Walk in His way always.

Lord, You know where my emotions get the better of me.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of truth that I would walk humbly with You, listening to Your Word and seeking first Your righteousness.  Open my ears, let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight and help me to step out in faith as one who does what You require.  You know where the obstacles are, Lord.  Remove them so that I may walk in this faith You have given me.

Dear Lord Jesus, You died to regulate my loud mouth, anger, frustration, and desire to control others.  You died so that my ears might be opened and my heart changed.  You died and rose again because You are God and I am not.  Let me die to sin and then live for You, my Lord and God, in order that I may become what You have always intended me to be.  Teach me how to do these things which are against my sinful nature.  Teach me to be like You.  Amen.

“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18).

Look to the first fruits.  We often think of creation as a once and done thing.  But even scientists see that creation is constantly shifting and that it will be something else in what they call the end.  Here, we hear that God has called us to be first fruits in the new creation; for there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  Come then and live into the word of truth as His will is exercised in you.

Lord God, You have revealed the words of truth and You have made them known to all who would hear the truth of Your Word.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the word of truth so that I may live into the life to which You have called me and for which Jesus died.  May I not stumble on the path You have put before me, nor led astray by the constant noise of this age but hold fast to Your revelation.

Dear Jesus, You went to the cross so that we might become the new creation.  You have told us that there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the new life in order that I would walk the narrow path, which is You Who is the way, dear Jesus, and live according to the word You have revealed.  Hold me close to You so that I may seek first Your righteousness, knowing that all else that is needed will be provided.  Amen.