For many people across America, this day feels very different from the past several weeks. Summer is officially over. Schools across America have begun, community pools are closed, summer county fairgrounds stand empty, the daily routines of millions of families have changed substantially. For those of us who’ve been on the “Journey 33 100 Days of Summer 2013,” it is my hope that you have been well nourished spiritually all summer and are propelled into September ready to be a great source of encouragement and, if needed, stability to those around you who are struggling today with the reality of the day after summer. In the message this past weekend, we linked Psalm 33 with the book of James. James may have been one of the first books of the New Testament written after Jesus’ ascension. James grew up with Jesus in Nazareth as one of his brothers and refused to believe Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah. It was after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension that finally he trusted the truth about Jesus and became His passionate follower. In his five chapter of this letter to those first generation Jewish Christians around the Roman Empire, James challenges them to live such changed lives that no one could deny the powerful reality of what a “new creation in Christ” is all about! James 1:2-4 calls us to welcome adversity and problems because they provide the opportunity for our faith in and followership of Jesus Christ to grow as we persevere in difficulty without turning angry or bitter but trusting God to sustain and guide us! Remember a week ago in worship we looked at the book of Hebrews and five great anchors of hope because the human journey brings storms into each of our lives. Now, can you connect those two? The Anchors of Hope of Hebrews and the Welcome of Storms of James? And do you see that the common foundation in both is the Risen Lord Jesus Christ and His Word? Read the rest of James Chapter 1 and watch for practical ways James gives us to stand firm as a God-honoring man or woman in the rage of your storms. James 2 is a very important description of our faith relationship with God being seen and validated in our attitudes and actions. James was concerned that many first generation Christians only claimed to have trusted in Jesus but there was nothing about their daily lives that distinguished them from anyone else or showed any change from their past. Look closely at this chapter friends; is your faith clearly evidenced in your attitudes and actions every day? Digging Deeper ~ pastor Doug Anderson
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:00:01 +0000
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