Prepare for Life

In today's lesson, James urges us to speak with care. Our faith is shown in our actions and perhaps one of our most prolific actions is our words. The words that we speak tell a lot about the condition of our hearts.

James encourages us to take our faith and put it into action. He is not content with people saying that they have faith. He wants people who say they have faith to put their faith on display in their lives. Last week we saw that he encouraged us to stand with confidence through our trials and temptations. This week in Chapter Two, James writes and encourages us to serve with compassion.

Companion Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/summer-of-purpose-compassion/id1392656548?i=1000447466802

The book of James is one of the most practical books in the entire Bible. It is straight forward and to the point, it is sometimes called the Proverbs of the New Testament. James is full of zingers and one-liners that just cut straight to the chase. James challenges us to move our faith into our lives.

I have a very simple reminder…you are created with purpose. We are all created with purpose. And all of our purposes far surpass one summer series. We are made with daily purpose. We are created with great purpose. My hope is that you will continue to apply the things we’ve touched on the past 12 weeks. Listen to Kathy's testimony.

As we are nearing the end of this series I want to ask you a question. What are you doing with your faith?

 

Maybe your faith has let you down and things haven’t worked out for you even though you have trusted God and worn yourself out praying for Him to change your circumstances. I understand and have experienced seasons where I didn’t know if my prayers were hitting the ceiling or actually making it to God’s ears. 

Today is not so much about answers but about meditating and contemplating our faith.

In this podcast I talk about our personal compassion. Compassion that ‘enters into one another’s suffering’. The deeper understanding of the suffering of another that we may not identify with…

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says it best, “We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.”

True gentleness is the quality of being kind, tender and merciful…There’s nothing weak about it and it’s not always easy to operate in but as believers, gentleness is our call to strength. The scripture says, "show gentleness to ALL people." Learn more in this podcast.

One of my favorite authors A.W. Tozer said, “It’s the nature of God to speak.”

Good news — God is always speaking. We just have to listen. 

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And you will seek for Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

I want to remind you today as you seek God for answers to your questions and for guidance…

God loves you. He is for you.

I think Matthew 7:8-9 is good news for us all.  The scripture says….“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?"

I want you to be reminded of who you are in Jesus Christ. I want us to invite the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. Clear out negative beliefs and attitudes, feelings. Give us the mind of Christ that reflect God’s purposes in our lives.