If we are truly honest with ourselves we are all bothered by change. The birth of Christ 2,000 years ago ushered in a new era of radical change for the entire world. For some this new change was a hope that was realized, but for others it was a hope that was despised...what will it be for you?

In Luke 2:25-35 we encounter the story of Simeon, a man who waited well. Simeon was given a future promise from the Lord that he would not see death until he saw the coming Messiah. God stayed true to His promise to Simeon, and in our season of waiting we know that God will stay true to His Word to us.

James is basically carrying on the conversation from earlier in his letter that…just as faith without works is dead, so is "wisdom" that is not humbly put into practice. James doesn't define wisdom here, but he describes it. He tells us there are two kinds: there is wisdom from below, and there is wisdom from above.

How do you know if you're mature? Some would say it's based upon how much you know. Others might argue that it's what you do. James says no; it's our tongue. Our words measure our Christian maturity and therefore reveal the status of our faith. In other words, your character is revealed by your words.

How do you know you're really a Christian? Can any brand of faith save? James answers that by giving us for examples of what it means to possess true and false faith. True faith is active faith; it's faith that works.

It's God's character to care for those who can't care for themselves. And if God's life is truly at work in us, then caring for the poor and others should become part of our character as well.

We can know a lot about the Bible, but James says our actions will show what we believe. In this passage he encourages us to stop talking and listen to the Word of God— the implanted Word— by which God intervenes our very soul to change us.

We tend to think of sin as a single act. God always sees it as a multi-step process. Every part of you is involved when you sin, but it starts when our desires lead to temptation.

The topic of suffering, pain and trials is one of the mega themes of Scripture. James says not "if" but "when" we meet trials…which means as Christians we should expect trails to come. That also means we need to hear and heed what James has to say.

The Letter by James offers us an important view of the Christian faith. While he barely mentions Jesus at all, James goes straight to practical issues, namely how to live in light of the gospel. James assumes his readers know and believe the gospel; they just aren’t applying it to how they live. In this, he calls Christians to a tested, mature faith; faith that is so genuine that it is evident to the world. James exhorts us to live what we believe.