James 1-5
The book of James in fantastic, and you can read its short 5 chapters now with the BIBLE READER widget to the right of this post or at http://www.biblegateway.com/
GOD'S WILL.
So we've all heard of God's will, right? Something that God has set out for you... His special plan for everything. He is ultimately in charge, and yeah, we can make our own decisions... but for everything else, God has a plan.
This can be comforting, at times, because it reminds us that everything is going to be okay. But in the thick of it all, when God works in our lives, sometimes we doubt His plan. In today's reading, there was major talk about God's will, and I loved what it had to say:
Now listen, you who say, �Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.� Why, 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.
Instead, you ought to say, �If it is the Lord�s will, we will live and do this or that.� As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn�t do it, it is sin for them.
James 4:13-17
It's kind of confusing, but we can try and break it down together. Even if we're still a little confused, that's alright! God's will is for us-- but it's ultimately God's. It's His plan, and His will, and we don't necessarily understand it all the time.
First, it talks about us trying to get to high places in society by making our own decisions INSTEAD of doing God's work in the world. It says that we shouldn't focus on what's best for us, but what's for God's kingdom. Our life essentially doesn't belong to us, but it's God's. He can do whatever He wants with us... but it's never for the worst :)
The last part about people knowing good things that need to be done... and not doing it... that's where it gets tough. We need to understand that God has a plan for us, and if He puts opportunity in our way, we should take it! It may not be the best for us personally, but better for His kingdom, which is what it's all about.
Take that under consideration today and for your life in years to come... stop worrying about what you'll do tomorrow and focus on bettering God's kingdom!
Amen!
Go in peace.
The book of James in fantastic, and you can read its short 5 chapters now with the BIBLE READER widget to the right of this post or at http://www.biblegateway.com/
GOD'S WILL.
So we've all heard of God's will, right? Something that God has set out for you... His special plan for everything. He is ultimately in charge, and yeah, we can make our own decisions... but for everything else, God has a plan.
This can be comforting, at times, because it reminds us that everything is going to be okay. But in the thick of it all, when God works in our lives, sometimes we doubt His plan. In today's reading, there was major talk about God's will, and I loved what it had to say:
Now listen, you who say, �Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.� Why, 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.
Instead, you ought to say, �If it is the Lord�s will, we will live and do this or that.� As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn�t do it, it is sin for them.
James 4:13-17
It's kind of confusing, but we can try and break it down together. Even if we're still a little confused, that's alright! God's will is for us-- but it's ultimately God's. It's His plan, and His will, and we don't necessarily understand it all the time.
First, it talks about us trying to get to high places in society by making our own decisions INSTEAD of doing God's work in the world. It says that we shouldn't focus on what's best for us, but what's for God's kingdom. Our life essentially doesn't belong to us, but it's God's. He can do whatever He wants with us... but it's never for the worst :)
The last part about people knowing good things that need to be done... and not doing it... that's where it gets tough. We need to understand that God has a plan for us, and if He puts opportunity in our way, we should take it! It may not be the best for us personally, but better for His kingdom, which is what it's all about.
Take that under consideration today and for your life in years to come... stop worrying about what you'll do tomorrow and focus on bettering God's kingdom!
Amen!
Go in peace.
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