If a body is not breathing, it is a dead body. If a person who claims to possess faith isn’t serving the kingdom, his is not a living faith. Works—those acts that carry ethical and religious consequences—set us apart as believers. Now, to be clear, works aren’t what we do…

Are you willing to learn? I imagine James’ heart ached as he penned that question. We all know people who are stubbornly set in their own belief system that isn’t scriptural and therefore is leading them down a road to condemnation. We want so much to change their course, but…

HYMN DAY! This wonderful hymn was written by John Henry Yates, who was already preaching in churches at the age of 21…40 years before he was officially ordained. My favorite line in this hymn is the end of verse 3: “We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night in Jesus’ conq’ring…

This is a strong statement, isn’t it? It can make a person sit back and think, “Whoa…” But it’s an important statement. There are many people who think they’re okay because they believe in a “higher power.” That’s basically belief in a creed rather than personal trust in a Savior.…

If we wanted to define the word “works” for context here, we would say “behavior with ethical and religious consequences.” I think we can all agree that evil deeds eventually lead to condemnation. On the other hand, good deeds lead to commendation. But good deeds in and of themselves don’t…

As I said on Tuesday, I’ve personally experienced the justice and mercy of the cross. Because I’ve received mercy, I know how to give mercy. As receivers of God’s mercy, we’re expected to extend mercy to others. Showing favoritism for any reason is never merciful. Let me see with His…

Speaking and acting covers our interactions with others. We are free to behave however we please. We are free to say whatever we want to. But we will be judged for the things we do and say—most especially those things that grieve the Lord. As His children, we are to…

“God of Mercy, God of Grace” might not be familiar to you. This was originally a poem written by Henry Frances Lyte, a pastor in Ireland in the early 1800s. The words were put to music by Conrad Kocher in 1838, and were published in The English Hymnal in 1906.…

James is pretty direct with this command: Do not show favoritism. Apparently he’d received word that the wealthy were being given preferential treatment in the houses of worship, were offered the nicest seats while the poor were relegated to the back of the room or the even the floor. James…

James reminded his readers of something they should already know. Jesus instructed His followers to love their neighbors…and by neighbors, He meant anyone with whom His followers came into contact. Love must serve anyone in need. That James gave this reminder tells us his readers weren’t really abiding by the…