Devotional: James 1:13-18

Reflection

• Read James 1:13-18
• Read Matthew 5:17-37
• Read Romans 8 (whole chapter)

Discussion

God created us and continues to sustain us because it pleases Him to do so.  He is a good God in His benevolent treatment of us and He is also a great God is his exceeding power to do whatever He wills.  Considering these attributes of God and our position before Him we should stand in awe of His nature and praise His name.

Connection

Both James 1 and Romans 8 speak of the people of God as the first fruits.  Leaning on our agriculturally rich region, how does the imagery of a first fruit connect to the function we have as His people?

 

We know that we are fallen and we cannot archive the perfection of God while we are on the earth.  What does that mean to our efforts of still striving to achieve that perfection?

 

What can’t we just throw in the towel and stop trying?

 

Romans 8:26 speaks of the Holy Spirit interceding for us when we are so distraught we don’t have words. Recall a time when you have experienced this.

 

When was this?

 

What was going on?

 

What did the intercession of the Holy Spirit seem like at the time?

 

What was the end result?

 

Expansion

Mankind

God created mankind in His own image with two genders: male and female designed to compliment each in a monogamous marriage unit.  At creation the first man and woman were sinless and tasked with tending God’s creation.  While Adam and Eve were created to glorify God, they disobeyed launching themselves and all of mankind after them into sinfulness and separation from God.  Because of our fallen nature, all of mankind is damned to hell and unable to justify themselves before God without the grace of God providing redemption of their souls through faith in Christ alone.

Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16, Deuteronomy 6:5, Isaiah 43:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16, Genesis 3:1-8, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 6:5, Romans 3:9-23, Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:22