OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for April 2019
May 1, 2019
James 4:10 – Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Thought: The person who sees his deprived spiritual condition will weep before God. He will humble himself in God’s presence. He will make no demands of the heavenly Father. Instead, he will ask: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” The answer the Lord provides will be obeyed. God will take this person and lift him up. He will be exalted to heavenly places in Christ. The Lord will also be able to lift him up for use in His kingdom. My friend, humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.
Luke 18:13-14
May 2, 2019
James 4:11 – Speak not evil one of another, brethren, He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Thought: Some people love to be judges of others. They are constantly critiquing the lives of others. When they see a flaw, they do not mind telling others about it. They enjoy speaking evil of others. James says: “He that speaketh evil of his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law…” My friend, we are not called to be judges. If we are going to examine anyone, we need to examine self.
II Corinthians 13:5
May 3, 2019
James 4:12 – There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are thou that judgest another?
Thought: I once read: “There is one God, and you are not Him.” The same type of thought holds true with regard to judging others. There is one judge, and we are not Him. God gave the law. God will judge mankind by His law. Being the judge is not the prerogative of man. Not only can God judge, but He can also save and destroy. No man can boast of these abilities. We would do better to judge not!
Isaiah 33:22
May 4, 2019
James 4:13 – Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain.
Thought: This verse sounds like almost every person who lives on earth. We arise every day with our bold plans made. Some of our plans are daily plans. Other plans involve things that we desire to happen in the future. When we speak to others, we make our boasts about all of the things that we are going to accomplish. Isn’t this just natural? It is what everyone does. What’s wrong with this? James will reveal this to us in the verses to come.
Luke 12:17-19
May 5, 2019
James 4:14 – Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Thought: Man makes his plans as if he is going to life forever. He often forgets that tomorrow is not promised to him. We do not know what is on the morrow. Life is like a vapor. It comes and goes quickly. Sometimes, it goes much too soon. All of us know of individuals who left this world at an early age. Life seemed to be promising, but it was not to be. An accident, a sickness, or an unknown health issue have taken people in the prime of life. Yet, we continue to act as if we will live forever.
Job 7:6-7
May 6, 2019
James 4:15 – For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Thought: It is not wrong for man to make plans. He does not constantly have to be in the fear of death. James is urging his readers to include God in all plans that are made. “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” Our lives need to be lived in faith. Our lives need to be lived in the presence of God. Our lives need to be lived in a willing submission to the will of God. These are the lives God blesses. This is not just a phrase to be repeated. It is an attitude that is lived.
Acts 18:20-21
May 7, 2019
James 4:16 – But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Thought: Man plans for the future. He brags about all of the things he is going to accomplish. Yet, he never thinks about God. He certainly has not brought God into his plans. James says that this type of rejoicing is evil. It makes man out to be his own god. He imagines himself to be the one who can shape his own destiny. He fails to realize that God is the one who will grant the abilities, the resources, and the time for the things being planned. Dear reader, man by himself is not as great as he thinks.
Psalm 52:7
May 8, 2019
James 4:17 – Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Thought: There are several Bible verses that define sin. This is one of them. Here, we read about the the sin of omission. A person knows what he is supposed to do, but he does not do it. Knowledge is not just a treasure to be stored in one’s head. It is supposed to be the fuel that sets one into motion. God wants us to doers of His Word. To know and fail to do is sin. What are you omitting?
Luke 12:47
May 9, 2019
James 5:1 – Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
Thought: Some had been deluded into thinking that if they had money all of their worries and difficulties would go away. This is not the case. Many a rich person has been afflicted with miseries. Sometimes it is his wealth that creates the problems. Even God can afflict the rich. Often their riches cause them to distrust God. They trust only in their riches and themselves. The purpose of their trials is to remind them of the vanity of riches and their dependency on God.
Jeremiah 9:23
May 10, 2019
James 5:2 – Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
Thought: We tend to believe that wealth is durable and lasting. Not so! Riches can become corrupt and perish. Beautiful garments are subject to the same decay as other clothing. They, too, can be motheaten. Sadly, our deceptions about riches cause us to continue to trust in them rather than trusting in God. Only those who have experienced their decay and their loss of value can truly appreciate the vanity of wealth.
Luke 12:33
May 11, 2019
James 5:3 – Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and you shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Thought: Riches are not supposed to become our god. They are not supposed to be the thing that will condemn us in the last day. Yet, this is what happens to many wealthy people. They will learn, however, that their riches are not what they think they are. They will mold and rust. Instead of working positively on their behalf, they work to their detriment. They will find that regardless of how much wealth they accumulate, their riches cannot save them.
Luke 12:15
May 12, 2019
James 5:4 – Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
Thought: When the rich are consumed by their riches, they want more and more and more. They find all kinds of ways to amass their wealth. One way this is done is by defrauding their workers. Instead of rewarding their laborers generously, they find ways of keeping the money for themselves. The Lord assures the rich and the defrauded laborers that He hears their cries. One day justice will be served by the Lord of Sabaoth, that is, the Lord of the angelic armies of heaven.
Deuteronomy 24:14-15
May 13, 2019
James 5:5 – Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in the day of slaughter.
Thought: The rich live in pleasure on the earth. They have luxurious homes, expensive cars, and the finest garments. They eat the best foods. They take amazing vacations. They engage in activities can only be dreamed of by the poor. Luxury, voluptuous, and wanton describe their lives. James then makes an interesting comment. They nourish their hearts “as in the day of slaughter.” The rich are much like cattle. They continue to indulge themselves unaware of the slaughter that is coming upon them. In essence, they give no thought to God, their spiritual lives, and judgment to come.
Romans 13:13-14
May 14, 2019
James 5:6 – Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
Thought: The rich and powerful often take advantage of the innocent. In fact, they will destroy them if that is what is needed. The just do not resist them. Why? They do not have the resources to resist. They do not feel they can withstand the consequences that will come upon them if they resist. Thus, the vicious attacks continue. The rich convince themselves that they are invincible.
Proverbs 17:5
May 15, 2019
James 5:7 – Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Thought: Most of James’ readers are not from among the rich. No, they are the ones who are ill-treated by the wealthy. James exhorts them to be patient unto the coming of the Lord. There is a great day coming, but the faithful must wait for it. They must develop the calm endurance of the husbandman. He must be patient for the rains to come. He must wait for the crop to mature. His endurance eventually pays off. The same is true of the faithful child of God. His patience will be rewarded.
Hebrews 6:13-15
May 16, 2019
James 5:8 – Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh?
Thought: James exhorted his readers to be patient in verse 7. He exhorts them to be patient again in this verse. However, he also tells them “how” to do this. First, they needed to stablish their hearts. The heart corresponds to the mind. They needed to fill it with the wisdom of God. Second, they needed to remember the coming of the Lord was near. They needed to hold on just a little longer.
Hebrews 10:35-37
May 17, 2019
James 5:9 – Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Thought: James has been discussing the rich and the poor in this letter. We can be rich and become poor. We can be poor and become rich. The danger is when we compare and contrast ourselves and others. We soon find ourselves grudging against another. We talk about them and what they have. Both our words and tone are negative. “Look at him.” “Look at what he has.” “Who does he think he is?” Be careful, “lest ye be condemned.” The judge knows both our hearts and our actions.
Leviticus 19:18
May 18, 2019
James 5:10 – Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Thought: The Christians to whom James was writing were suffering oppression from the rich. To be afflicted once or twice makes for an easy recover. Affliction on a daily basis for a long period of time requires patience. James understood the need for positive examples. Therefore, he reminds his readers of the prophets of old. They suffered affliction and were patient. If they could do it, so could James’ readers. My friends, if the prophets of the past did it, so can we!
Hebrews 6:11-12
May 19, 2019
James 5:11 – Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Thought: James reminds his readers that happiness comes with endurance, but endurance is not easy. Thus, he reminds them of another very patient man, Job. This great patriarch suffered the loss of his financial well-being, lost his ten children, and his body was afflicted with boils from his head to his feet. His friends accused him of sin. He knew he was innocent. He did not understand all that was happening, but he endured. In the end, he was blessed by God who is pitiful and of tender mercy.
Job 42:10-17
May 20, 2019
James 5:12 – But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Thought: The habit of swearing was common in the first century. What was sworn upon was intended to indicate the importance of keeping the oath. Heaven was more important than the earth. James tells his readers to “swear not.” Our yes should be yes. Our no should be no. Our word should be our bond. If you will not do something, do not promise to do it. If you promise to do it, however, do it.
Matthew 5:33-37
May 21, 2019
James 5:13 – Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Thought: In life, we often find ourselves at one of two extremes, being afflicted or being merry. Regardless of the condition in which we find ourselves, we have actions that can be taken spiritually. If we are afflicted, we can pray. At God’s throne, there is resignation and comfort. If we are merry, we can sing psalms. These songs fill us with joy as we are reminded of God and His wonderful blessings.
Psalm 105:2
May 22, 2019
James 5:14 – Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over them, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
Thought: In the first century, the church was well aware of the organizational structure of the church. The elders of the church were the overseers. They were also the shepherds. It was their responsibility to care for the flock. If one was sick, all knew who to call. The elders. These men would pray over them and anoint them with oil. They would do all they could to restore the health of the sick sheep.
Acts 14:23
May 23, 2019
James 5:15 – And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Thought: The epistle of James was written in the first century. Its setting involved the age of miracles. Some elders possessed the gift of healing. When a member of a local church was sick, they would call the elders. The prayers of these godly leaders would be offered in faith. God would hear and answer their intercessions. The sick would be saved. These men would also pray on behalf of the individual’s spiritual condition. If sins had been committed, they would be forgiven. There is power in prayer.
I Corinthians 12:28-30
May 24, 2019
James 5:16 – Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Thought: This verse has nothing to do with the confessional of the Catholic Church. It does not involve forced confession of those who advocate a man-made version of total commitment. Our confession involves our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are close and loving relationships. They are mutual relationships. We confess our faults to one another and pray one for another. We know prayer avails much when our righteous brethren pray for us. We can be healed.
Act 8:22-24
May 25, 2019
James 5:17 – Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Thought: The Bible furnishes us with numerous examples of righteous men and women who prayed fervently. These examples prove to us that God hears the prayers of such individuals. Elijah is one such example. Notice that James tells us he was “a man subject to like passions as we are.” He was just a human being like we are. He had the same struggles and difficulties. He prayed, and his prayer was answered. When we pray, if we are living righteously and praying fervently, we will also be heard.
I Samuel 1:10-11
May 26, 2019
James 5:18 – And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Thought: Prayer is powerful. Prayer can work again and again in our lives. Prayer can accomplish wonderful results. Elijah’s prayer confirms all of these points. Prayer stopped the rain. Prayer caused the rain to begin again. When the rains came, the earth was bountiful again. Every child of God needs to develop a consistent prayer life. We need to pray in faith expecting wonderful things from God.
I Kings 18:42-45
May 27, 2019
James 5:19 – Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one covert him.
Thought: After becoming a Christian, we are still tempted by Satan. He still entices our lust and desires with the things of this world. He also seeks to lead us from the truth through false teachings. Satan takes great delight in leading a person away from the truth. When this happens, the faithful with in the church need to convert the erring member. He is on a destructive path. If he is not helped, he could lose his soul.
Galatians 6:1-2
May 28, 2019
James 5:10 – Let him know, that he which coverteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Thought: There are some who do not believe that a Christian can lose his soul to eternal condemn-ation. James reveals that it is possible unless someone converts the sinner from the error of his way. Not only does he save a soul from death, but he also hides a multitude of sins. Most of the time sin is not singular in nature. One sin involves several sins. If one can intervene and convert the sinner, multitudes of sins are diverted. Restoration is not an easy work, but a very profitable one.
Jude 1:22-23
May 29, 2019
I Peter 1:1 – Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
Thought: Peter is an apostle with whom we all can identify. He had a wife and children. He worked hard as a fisherman. He loved the Christ and followed Him. He struggled at times, however. He was strong-willed and impulsive. He sinned. Sometimes he sinned badly. Yet, he continued to grow. When he sinned he repented and sought forgiveness. The Lord used him in marvelous ways. We now begin a study of his first epistle. He writes to Christians who have been scattered due to the hardship of persecution. The lesson for all of us is that God can use us, even if we are weak and frail.
Matthew 4:18-20
May 30, 2019
I Peter 1:2 – Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Thought: All Christians are elected. They were not elected individually before the foundation of the earth. They were elected when they obeyed the gospel of Christ which was foreordained before the foundation of the earth. Christians are also sanctified through the Spirit. This is done through the agency of the Word of God which the spirit revealed. Because of their obedience and the blood of Jesus they have been purified from their sins. To a group of elect, Peter sends this letter. He wishes both grace and peace upon them. In fact, he wants them to experience these things bountifully.
Romans 8:29-30
May 31, 2019
I Peter 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Thought: Peter is a man who experienced the mercy of God in his life time and time again. After the death of Jesus on Calvary, the small band of men called apostles were hopeless for a period of time. The one whom they believed to be the Messiah was dead. All of this changed on the third day. Jesus was raised from the dead. They were witnesses of His resurrection. The mercy of God begat within them a lively, that is, living hope. My friend, this hope still exists. Because Jesus lives, we have hope!
Mark 16:6-7
Read devotionals for June 2019
