S – Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded

James 4:7–8 CSB

O – Commentary

The point is that a person who lives by God’s values (in this case, his way of peace) is no part of *Satan’s *kingdom (in contrast to the religious-sounding revolutionaries)…Double-minded” again alludes to the general ancient contempt for hypocrisy: one must act from either God’s peaceful wisdom or the devil’s hateful wisdom (3:13–18; 4:4

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 679.

A – In spiritual warfare, we fight from a place of victory that Christ achieved when he went to the cross and was resurrected.  He has already won the battle.  Yet, we do have a part to play in moving away from the thoughts, actions and words that are evil.  They do not help us grow in our relationship with God.  We can’t play in both camps – we must choose God if we are going to walk out that victory.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Alpha and the Omega.   Thank you for providing us the victory over the devil when Jesus went to the cross.  Give us the strength to make choices that will help us grow closer to you and put distance to those things that will draw us away from you .

S – And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 

James 3:6 CSB

O – Commentary:

The tongue acts as an agent of the whole unrighteous world which is opposed to God (1:27; 4:4). • for it is set on fire by hell itself: Or for it will burn in hell (Greek Gehenna). Gehenna is the place of eternal punishment (Matt 5:22, 30; 23:15), in contrast to Hades, the abode of the dead (Luke 16:23; Acts 2:31). The reference to hell is an allusion to the devil (4:7; Matt 5:22; John 8:44) as the ultimate source of evil speech

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Jas 3:6.

A – There is a spiritual battle for our words.  The devil cannot make us say anything.  Yet, he barrages our mind and thoughts continuously with accusations, lies and temptations.  The more we allow that, our words will follow our minds.   We need to take authority over any wicked thought and remove it.  Then, we should allow God’s word and truth shape our minds and thoughts.

R- Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for guarding our hearts and minds as we seek you.  We must do our part so you can do your part.

S – For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. 

James 2:26 CSB

O – Commentary:

The conclusion is most clear. Faith and deeds are as essential to each other as the body and the spirit. Apart from (chōris) the spirit, or the “breath” (pneumatos) of life, the body is dead. Apart from (chōris) the evidence of works, faith may be deemed dead. It is not the real thing. True faith continually contributes to spiritual growth and development

 J. Ronald Blue, “James,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 827.

A – The relationship between faith and works is just as vital as the body and the spirit.  Our faith in God is evident in the works we do for others because that is one of the foundational avenues for us to express it.  If we love God and it doesn’t result in others experiencing it, it is a misguided love.  The Bible tells us to examine the “fruit” or results of a person.

R – Heavenly Father, your are Holy.  Empower our faith to grow closer to you and our works to display genuinely demonstrate “good fruit.”  We don’t want to do this to be right.  We want our love for you shared in the lives of others.

S – My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 

James 1:19 CSB

O – James gives a three fold approach to argumentative situations and in general, a life lesson.  We should move to the posture of listening and receiving quickly, measure and think about our words and control our emotions to give a rational response.

A – What would everyday life look like if we followed this discipline?  There would be less emotion driven words and actions that cause more pain and miscommunication.  There would be a greater sense of understanding and connection with others.  There would be unity even in disagreement.  God didn’t create us to be “robotic.”  We have feelings, emotions, passions and deep seated beliefs – all should point to a love for Him and others.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the creator of all things.  Thank you for all the gifting, talents and inner workings that you have created in us.  We don’t negate those – we desire to use all of them today to bring honor to you.  Help us to steward them to share genuinely and honestly in a way that glorifies your name and shows your love for others.

S – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 Hebrews 13:8 NIV

O – Hebrews 13 shares a list of life experiences and challenges.  This verse is in the middle of all of it.  Jesus was, is and will be “there” in all that they faced.  He is there in all three characters of the trinity – God, Son and Holy Spirit in the past, present and future.

A – No matter what you are facing, you God is present.  Since he is unchanging, you have absolute truth that has remained from the beginning of time to now and will remain into perpetuity.  That gives us great confidence that we can put our faith and trust in God.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship you today.  Thank you for being unchanging in your character and truth.  We step toward you in faith and trust knowing that you and your word are absolute.  

S – No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11 CSB

O – Commentary:

There are at least two limitations on an earthly father’s discipline. First, his discipline, or education, is only for a few years (literally for a few days)—children eventually leave home. Second, earthly fathers were doing the best they knew how from their limited perspectives. By contrast, God’s discipline lasts throughout life and is always good for us, based on his limitless knowledge and love. His goal is that we might share in his holiness. Although it is painful, discipline brings about a peaceful harvest of right living. It brings God’s children into a state conducive to harmonious relationships and doing what is right

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 12:10–11.

A – The commentary gives a fresh perspective on difficult times and challenges that God allows.  In his limitless knowledge, he is working with an eternal perspective. It doesn’t lessen the pain but it puts a time frame on it that is different.  It also allows us to view it from a spiritual perspective.  This ties into the scripture earlier in the chapter where it says, “For the joy set before him, he endured the cross…”

R – Heavenly Father, your are limitless and eternal.  Open our eyes to see through an eternal lens today.  We are facing challenges and difficulties today that are tough.  Yet, we know you are present and with us.  Bring all of that together in a way that we can step toward you in love, faith and trust.

S – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

O – Commentary:

Before presenting the list of examples, the author defines what faith is: It is acting on what God has revealed about his will and character. • The confidence of faith is based on the God who fulfills his promises. • The word translated assurance means an active certainty that what God has promised will come to pass despite our not yet seeing it.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 11:1.

A – God reveals himself to us in many ways in various demonstrations.  Faith is distilling down our observations to what we believe about his will and character – the person of God that He is.  That allows us to believe with great confidence, knowing that he will fulfill his promises. It will always stretch us out of our comfort zone because God is big and infinite.

R – Heavenly Father, you are big and infinite.  There is no lack in ability, power or presence in you.  Empower us today to grow in our faith and trust in you.  We want to know you more and have greater faith in your will and character.

S – And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching

Hebrews 10:24–25 CSB

O – “Consider” – katanŏĕō, kat-an-o-eh´-o; from 2596 and 3539; to observe fully:— behold, consider, discover, perceive

“Provoke” – parŏxusmŏs, par-ox-oos-mos´; from 3947 (“paroxysm”); incitement (to good), or dispute (in anger):— contention, provoke unto

“Encourage” – parakalĕō, par-ak-al-eh´-o; from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):— beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – What would the church look like if we discovered the gifting and talent of each person? Then, we would incite them to think and do good, while imploring them to be strong in their walk with God and others.  We are the catalysts for this.  We must believe the best in others and put away strife, quarrels, jealousy and anger.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Great I AM.  Empower us today to rise above the things that divide us to things that bring us together.  We need to lead genuinely and by example.  Give us the courage to face tough situations with your presence and love today.

S – According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness

Hebrews 9:22 CSB

O – Commentary:

Many of the rituals of cleansing in the law of Moses involved the death of a sacrificial animal; blood was involved both in the rites of cleansing (see Exod 29:12; 30:10; Lev 4:6, 17; 16:14–19; Num 19:4) and in making atonement (see “Atonement” at Lev 16:1–34, p. 223). The shedding of Christ’s blood established the new covenant, providing permanent purification and complete forgiveness of sins 

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 9:22.

A – The only way to receive complete forgiveness of sin is through the blood of Christ.  He paid the price for “perfect blood” by living a sinless life and then sacrificing himself on the cross.  It answers every requirement that fulfilled the law and God’s plan.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for the blood of Christ that was shed on our behalf.  It is humbling and we are grateful.  We want to express our love for you in our thoughts, words and actions today.

S – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. 

I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Hebrews 8:10 CSB

O – Commentary:

Under the old covenant, the people were commanded to take the words of the law to heart (Deut 32:46), and the kings of Israel and Judah were judged on whether or not they followed the law of God wholeheartedly (2 Kgs 10:31; 2 Chr 31:21). A difference in the new covenant is that God’s laws would be in people’s minds and on their hearts. People would have renewed hearts and minds, with God’s law as an intrinsic, internal motivation. • on that day: Literally after those days.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 8:10.

A – God moved the his words from the outside to the inside a person.  Then, when Christ ascended to heaven, he gave us the Holy Spirit.  We have his word and spirit in us at all times.  This equips us to grow in our relationship with him, be used by him and stand against the attack of the enemy.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the One, true God.  Thank you for your presence in our lives through your word and spirit.  We are ready for today.  Move through us in all areas so we can demonstrate you love to others and fend off the attacks of the enemy.