Author: cackywalker@yahoo.com

“Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness , corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell, itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes, it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out of both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” (James 3: vv. 1-12, NLT)

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it in your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’ – but you dong give that person any food or clothing? What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn’t good enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; other have good deeds.’ But I say ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble with terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so if it happened just as the Scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted on him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called a friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead with out breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” (James 2: vv 14-26, NLT)

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in lives, and humbly accept the word of God has planted in your hearts for it has the power to save your souls.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in the mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 2: vv. 19-27, NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance go grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waiver, for a person with divided loyalty is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should to expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” James 1: vv. 2-8, NLT)

“Good bless those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it give birth to death.

So don’t be mislead, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation , became His prized possession.” (James 1: vv. 12-18, NLT)

“Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ” (Hebrews 13: v1, NLT)

“Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you or abandon you.’

So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have not fear. What can mere people do to me?’

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.” Hebrews 13:vv.4-9, NLT)

“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls and they are accountable to God. Give the reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. They certainly would not be for benefit.” (Hebrews 13: vv. 15-17, NLT)

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.” (Hebrews 12: vv. 14-17, NLT)

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping Him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.” (Hebrews 12: vv. 28-29, NLT)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to tell the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of al the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said,

‘My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.’ (Hebrews 12: vv. 1-6, NLT)

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are lame and weak will not fall but become strong.” (Hebrews 12: vv. 12-13, NLT)

“First, Christ said,’You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burn offerings o other offerings for sin, now were You pleased with them’ (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then He said, ‘Look, I have come to do Your will.’ He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the the body of Christ, once for all time.

Under the old covenant , the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering up the same sacrifices again and again, when can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There He waits until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For He says,’This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write then on the minds.’

Then He says,’I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.’

And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” (Hebrews 10:vv 8-18, NLT)

“Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. There He ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands. ” (Hebrews 8: vv. 1-2, NLT)

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. (Hebrews 8:vv. 6-7, NLT)

“When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means He has made the first one obsolete. It is out of date and will soon disappear.” (Hebrews 8:13, NLT)