Instead of tugging, learn to ...

"...because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" James 2:13

One of the statements or criticisms made by people who don’t follow Christ is that Christianity is a crutch for the weak. But this verse shows that the Christian life is not for the timid. It takes incredible strength to stand up for mercy and to treat others the way God has commanded.

When we clock out of this life, every one of us will stand before God. And it’s then that he is going to judge us; he’s going to make us give an account of every word, thought and action we ever said, thought or did while we were here on earth. And he is going to show us the same kind of mercy that we showed to others.

That is actually a difficult reality to face. When we get cut off in traffic or someone jams us or talks about us behind our back, our instinct is to lash out and get them back, to hold a grudge or wish them harm. But that’s exactly when we need to remember this verse.

God is going to hold you to the same standard you use with others. So don’t judge, and don’t lash out or hold grudges. Instead, release that situation into God’s hands. Exhibit the strength of mercy, which triumphs over all, and then you can truly say you tried to reach people for Christ!

Christian?

The word "Christian" dates back to the early days of the Church, after the gospel had begun to spread throughout the world. The ironic thing is that, originally, the term was meant as an insult toward those who were walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

In today’s culture, the term Christian is one that those who accept Christ as Savior have chosen for themselves. But like then, many Christians still face ridicule.

If you find yourself being slandered because of your beliefs or ridiculed because of your faith, don’t give up hope. And don’t allow it to keep you from reaching out the way God wants you to.

Instead, use the opportunity to show people what it truly means to be a Christian. Let your reaction be to show them God’s love. And pray for them in the name above all other names, Jesus Christ.

Do you have LDD?

"My dear brothers, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19

Did you catch the rhythm in those verses? One quick; two slows. Most of us go through life, though, with the order of this passage reversed. We’re quick to anger, faster still to speak and slow to listen. But James is telling us that effective communication doesn’t work that way.

A lot of people have LDD—Listening Deficit Disorder. We’re so busy trying to say what’s on our minds that we miss out on what others are saying. But by interrupting, over-talking and dominating every conversation, we’re missing out on what God wants us to experience; we’re missing opportunities to grow and learn.

It is virtually impossible to listen when you’re talking. When your mouth is running, the listening stops. And the same thing can happen when it comes to our relationship with God. Don’t get so busy telling God what you want him to do that you miss listening to what he’s trying to tell you.

What is...

"Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." James 1:15

Temptation is deceptively disguised. Just like the bait used by fishermen to entice their catch, temptation looks good—at first.

When we’re lured in by sin, we don’t think about the sting of the hook. So often, we just take the bait because we don’t see where that temptation is leading us. Yet, in this verse, we are clearly cautioned about where this dangerous path leads.

Sin has its kicks. But it also has some serious kickbacks. Don’t allow yourself to fall for the enemies tricks and think that you’ve gotten away with something. Time always reveals the truth and brings sin and its consequences to light.

God wants you to avoid those consequences. But to do that, you need help in recognizing the bait Satan uses to try and lure you away from God’s plan. God is ready to help you identify the areas where sinful desires have started so you can eliminate them before they become full grown.

What does it all mean?

Sometimes, as we read the Bible, it’s hard to wrap our minds around it and make sense of it all. But as we look closely at the entirety of the Bible, we can see that God has a plan for our salvation throughout every page.

The book of Isaiah was penned hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth, and it stands as a testament to God’s overarching plan for our lives today. The arrival of Jesus was not a spur-of-the-moment decision; God had a plan for our salvation all along.

Isaiah prophesied Jesus’ death in graphic detail, hundreds of years before the actual crucifixion took place. He described Jesus as a lamb, which is exactly what Jesus became when He was sacrificed for our sins. God fulfilled His perfect plan at the perfect time.

Since God took such painstaking time to fulfill his plan, it must be a plan worth trusting. When you see the details in all that God has done and said, use that to build your trust in Him. Don’t miss the genius of his master plan. Instead, realize that God’s plan throughout Scripture continues in your life today. And in His perfect time, he will take you where he wants you to go.