Devotional: James 1:19-27

by | Feb 21, 2023 | devotional, James | 0 comments

Devotional: James 1:19-27

Reflection

  • Read first James 1:19-27
  • Then Matthew 5:44-48
    • (Mat 5:44 ESV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
    • (Mat 5:45 ESV) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
    • (Mat 5:46 ESV) For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
    • (Mat 5:47 ESV) And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
    • (Mat 5:48 ESV) You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Discussion

This won’t be pretty, but for a moment think of the person you disdain the most.  Anyone, anywhere, the person that you feel the worst for.  They wrong you in some way, maybe a long time ago or maybe it is a habit of mistreatment that has continued until this day.  What is their name?

 

The Enemy: _____________________________

 

Now think of the person you love the most.  The one who you are not sure you could life without.  Maybe that is a parent of a spouse or a child.  What is their name?

 

The Loved One: _____________________________

 

Connection

How often do you pray for the loved one?  How often for the enemy?

 

Fill in the blank with the name of your enemy:

(Mat 5:44 ESV) But I say to you, Love ______________ and pray for those who persecute you,

 

What emotion does that invoke?

 

How might life be different if you spent 3 minutes daily praying for the blessing of your enemy?  Try that out this week.

 

Expansion

Prayer

Prayer is a special form of communication between God and His people enabled and guided by the Holy Spirit and meant to happen constantly. Following the example of Jesus, believers should pray for God’s glory, seeking God’s will and provision, confessing their sins and requesting forgiveness, and asking for direction from God.  When we pray we should approach the throne of God with confidence that He will meet all of our needs both physical and spiritual with our best interest at heart. In prayer, our ultimate desire is to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Psalm 34:15, Hebrews 4:16, Ecclesiastes 5:2, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Romans, 8:26, Acts 12:5, Acts 12:7, Philippians 4:6, Luke 11:2-13, Luke 18:1-8, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Ephesians 6:18-19, Matthew 6:5-8, Luke 22:39-44, John 15:7, 1 John 5:14, Isaiah 59:1, Luke 6:12, Luke 22:45-46, Colossians 4:2-3, Psalm 13:1-2, Psalm 22:2, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Matthew 14:35-36

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