It's Really Pretty Simple

I recently posted something on Facebook that said something like,

“Our problem isn’t only that our world has a presence of darkness, but also that our loves contain an absence of light.”

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone tells me to do something, but then they don’t give me instructions on how to do it…they just expect me to know. This mostly goes for teachers or school. 

But you see, we hear our pastors say all the time to go out and be lights and spread the word, and for many people, we have heard that message time and time again, so it just seems to go in one ear and out the other. We know that we need to be spreading the gospel, but we aren’t exactly sure where to start. 

The good news is, that the Bible is like a giant manual that tells you have to handle pretty much every event you will ever go through in your life. It instructs you HOW to be the light, HOW to live a godly life, HOW to….

It is our choice whether or not we will do what the Bible says, but when it comes to sharing the case for Christ, we can never use the excuse that we don’t know how. 

This week, I have been reading James, and it gives some pretty simple, clear instructions and insights.

1. Be happy when trials come, because they test your faith and produce perseverance. 
1. I know it’s pretty hard to be joyful, grateful, or even happy when you are facing trials, because you want to do the exact opposite. But try to think about it from the “big picture” perspective and see how this trial is going to positively effect you in the long run. 
2. You can only blame temptation on the devil, or yourself. 
1. Temptations drag people away by their own evil desires and entices them, which then gives birth to sin, which ultimately gives birth to death. When you stand by God, He will help you to resist temptation. 
3. Listen more, and be less angry.
1. Anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 
4. It is not enough to just listen to the word. You must do what it says. 
5. Those who follow Christ but do not control their mouth are deceiving themselves, and their religion is worthless. 
1. If your words are speaking things that the Lord would not approve of, you are doing no good for the Kingdom of God. 
6. If you break one part of the law, you have broken all of it. 
1. You’re either a sinner, or you’re not. (PS..we all are….sorry to burst your bubble)
7. Faith without deeds is useless.
1. Faith and actions work together. Sure, having a strong faith is great, but if you aren’t acting on it, then what good is it doing?
8. The tongue has great power and corrupts the whole body. 
1. We praise and curse with the same tongue. Brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? No. 
9. Those who bring peace will obtain righteousness. 
10. Wisdom leads to peace, love, a considerate heart, submissiveness, mercy, and good fruit. 
11. You cannot be friends with the world and a follower of God. 
1. James 4:4 merely states, “You adulterous people, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God."
12. Submit yourselves to God and resist the devil. 
1. Wash your hands and purify your hearts. Humble yourselves. 
13. Stop being judgmental. 
1. James 4:12 There is only one law maker, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you? Who are you to judge your neighbor? 
14. Only rely on God’s plan. 
1. James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
15. Be patient, like Job, and God will bring you greater things. 
16. Confess your sins to others so that you may be healed. 
17. Prayer is powerful and effective.
1. If one of you should wander from the truth, someone should bring that person back. This will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins.