Daily Update #292

Today’s reading: James 3:9-12 Sticks and stonesToday’s brief reading, which is only four verses from James, covers one topic – our speech. Yet I find there are three challenging points within it. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of …

Daily Update #291

Today’s reading: Pause: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are …

Daily Update #290

Today’s reading: 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the …

Daily Update #289

Today’s reading: James 2:20-26 “20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And …

Daily Update #288

Today’s reading: James 2:14-19 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.   16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” …

Daily Update #287

Today’s reading: James 2:8-13How much do you love yourself?I’m finding that James’ letter packs lots of gems into a few short verses. In continuing to consider issues over favouritism, James covers the law, judgement and mercy in these six verses. I think we can only scratch at the surface of some of these issues today. …

Daily Update #286

Today’s reading: 2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a …

Daily Update #285

Today’s reading: Pause: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose way is blameless.  Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”  Psalm 84: 11-12 Reading:  James 2 : 5 – 7  “Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: …