3 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 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.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 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. 6 And
among all the parts of the body, 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.[b]
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.[c]
18 1-2 God
appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the
entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up
and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed
before them.
3-5 He
said, “Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant.
I’ll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree.
I’ll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have
brought you across my path.”
They said, “Certainly. Go ahead.”
6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, “Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread.”
7-8 Then
Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave
it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds
and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal
before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate.
9 The men said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”
He said, “In the tent.”
10 One
of them said, “I’m coming back about this time next year. When I
arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the
tent opening, just behind the man.
11-12 Abraham
and Sarah were old by this time, very old. Sarah was far past the age
for having babies. Sarah laughed within herself, “An old woman like me?
Get pregnant? With this old man of a husband?”
13-14 God said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh saying, ‘Me? Have a baby? An old woman like me?’ Is anything too hard for God? I’ll be back about this time next year and Sarah will have a baby.”
15 Sarah lied. She said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was afraid.
But he said, “Yes you did; you laughed.”
16 When the men got up to leave, they set off for Sodom. Abraham walked with them to say good-bye.
17-19 Then God
said, “Shall I keep back from Abraham what I’m about to do? Abraham is
going to become a large and strong nation; all the nations of the world
are going to find themselves blessed through him. Yes, I’ve settled on
him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God’s way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him.”
20-21 God
continued, “The cries of the victims in Sodom and Gomorrah are
deafening; the sin of those cities is immense. I’m going down to see for
myself, see if what they’re doing is as bad as it sounds. Then I’ll
know.”
22 The men set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God’s path, blocking his way.
23-25 Abraham
confronted him, “Are you serious? Are you planning on getting rid of
the good people right along with the bad? What if there are fifty decent
people left in the city; will you lump the good with the bad and get
rid of the lot? Wouldn’t you spare the city for the sake of those fifty
innocents? I can’t believe you’d do that, kill off the good and the bad
alike as if there were no difference between them. Doesn’t the Judge of
all the Earth judge with justice?”
26 God said, “If I find fifty decent people in the city of Sodom, I’ll spare the place just for them.”
27-28 Abraham
came back, “Do I, a mere mortal made from a handful of dirt, dare open
my mouth again to my Master? What if the fifty fall short by five—would
you destroy the city because of those missing five?”
He said, “I won’t destroy it if there are forty-five.”
29 Abraham spoke up again, “What if you only find forty?”
“Neither will I destroy it if for forty.”
30 He said, “Master, don’t be irritated with me, but what if only thirty are found?”
“No, I won’t do it if I find thirty.”
31 He pushed on, “I know I’m trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?”
“I won’t destroy it for twenty.”
32 He wouldn’t quit, “Don’t get angry, Master—this is the last time. What if you only come up with ten?”
“For the sake of only ten, I won’t destroy the city.”
33 When God finished talking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham went home.The Message (MSG)
Key Idea: Obeying is the bridge between knowing and doing.
1) Humility makes obedience possible (vs 19-21) a. Pride pushes us to be right. b. Humility allows us to submit to others.
2) Obedience needs action (vs 22-25) a. Complacency leads to apathy
3) Let your character speak for itself (vs 26-29) a. Let the inward match the outward.
James 1:19-27 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Hearing and Doing the Word
19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent,[a] humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face[b] in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But
the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and
perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who
works—this person will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone[c] thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
13 No
one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since
God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
As we follow Jesus, sometimes we will endure trials.
1) Trials don’t have to be your enemy (vs 2)
a.) They can bring long term benefit (vs 3-4)
2) God gives you the wisdom to navigate what you are facing (vs 5)
b.) Trust God, not yourself (vs 6-8)
3) Circumstances are temporary (vs 9-11)
4) Keep your focus on eternity (vs 12)
James 1:2-12 New International Version (NIV)
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Footnotes:
James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi)
refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family;
also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10,
12, 19.
Colossians 1:15-23 New International Version (NIV)
The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
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