May you find that desire for the “star of gladness gleaming” that “cheers the wanderer, lone and tempest tossed.” I know many a people who have made it through unbelieveable though times because their foundation was strong and sure. This hymn is a great reminder of the desire we should have for God’s word. My reminder of my guide, my help, my hope. James and Hebrews and 1,2,3 John prior to that. Sometimes it is 5 minutes other times it is 5 chapters. But, I do come to my senses (most of the time fairly quickly) and get back to that daily shoring up, check in, or maintenance, however you prefer to see it. Do I always do a good job at it? Nope, just like some summers I forget to keep an eye on the house’s foundation and water around it well when the heat and dryness starts to pull it away from the cement. What about your own foundation – what you believe, why you believe, and how you are going to live because of it? Do you shore up your foundation daily? Do you check in on it and do the preventative maintenance to keep it strong and solid?įor me, that is a necessity. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after ( AQ) orphans and widows ( AR) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.Foundations are everything, aren’t they? Would you buy a home with a cracked and crumbling foundation? If your home’s foundation began cracking and crumbling, would you ignore it? ( AO)Ģ6 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues ( AP) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, ( AN) and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do. ( AM) 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 21 Therefore, get rid of ( AK) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, ( AL) which can save you.Ģ2 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Listening and Doingġ9 My dear brothers and sisters, ( AH) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak ( AI) and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger ( AJ) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 18 He chose to give us birth ( AE) through the word of truth, ( AF) that we might be a kind of firstfruits ( AG) of all he created. ( AA) 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, ( AB) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, ( AC) who does not change ( AD) like shifting shadows. ( Y)ġ6 Don’t be deceived, ( Z) my dear brothers and sisters. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin ( X) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ( V)ġ3 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own ( W) evil desire and enticed. ( S) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.ġ2 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial ( T) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life ( U) that the Lord has promised to those who love him. ( P) 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat ( Q) and withers ( R) the plant its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. ( O) 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation-since they will pass away like a wild flower. 8 Such a person is double-minded ( M) and unstable ( N) in all they do.ĩ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ( K) 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, ( L) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, ( J) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ( H) 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature ( I) and complete, not lacking anything. To the twelve tribes ( C) scattered ( D) among the nations:Ģ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ( F) 3 because you know that the testing of your faith ( G) produces perseverance. 1 James, ( A) a servant of God ( B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
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