Daily Digest

5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

I once had a prophetic word givien to me. It came in two parts. First, “God wants me to a great leader. Great in heart not head. Nice – I liked that one.  Second, “you have issues with money.” Not so nice.

But he was right – I did and still do (hopefully to a lessor extent) have issues with money. I wonder if this is why Jesus gave such stern warnings about the lure of wealth. James echoes that here in this passage.

So let’s get real – will my finances stand up and condemn me one day? Will this savings plan or this superannuation scheme eat at my flesh like fire? Have I been COMPLETELY honest in ALL my financial dealings? If all my money is taken away will I still worship God and thank Him and praise Him? Is my hope in Him or in my money?

Because the truth is He provides it all. All the money I have – it’s all His. Not just the amount I tithe. If he wants it back it’s perfectly right that He takes it. The real question is, do I have faith that He will absolutely provide for me, even if I have nothing? Do I really believe that if I have nothing, but have Jesus, I have everything?

Dear Jesus, let the prayer of the writer of Proverbs 30:8 be mine as well – “please give me neither poverty nor riches”. Help me get to that place that even if I had nothing, because I have you I have everything. Jesus, be my everything!

Written by Boudy Van Noppen

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Following on from verses 1-10, we are called to submit ourselves to God in another area of our lives together, that is, in judging others. God who gave us the law of love (Leviticus 19v18) is the only rightful judge (v12).

So when I feel wronged or disappointed, let down by a brother or sister, I have no right to “bad mouth” them as The Message version puts it (v11). In my situation of hurt, I want to blame, to point the finger at someone who I believe is the cause. How could they treat me this way?

But blame, judging, is the enemy of relationship. I am so sure in my bad opinion of my brother or sister in Christ, I cut off any chance to build them up. When I am so busy judging, holding grudges, the law of love is not ruling my life (v11). The ripples go out wider though, impacting the church, and its purpose to spread the message of the Gospel, because instead of being God’s instrument of change in this world, the church is fractured by broken relationships. This is what James warns against.

Jesus knew how hard we would find it, being his church on earth, and he emphasised we must love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Of course the neighbour also includes our enemy.

I guess when you think about it, blaming and bad mouthing are so much easier than forgiving and blessing. Forgiving and blessing are not prized by society today, which is all competition and getting it over someone else. Through the transforming power of Jesus the church is called to be different. When we follow the law of love, the Gospel of love shines through to bless and restore.

Dear Lord God, you gave us the law to guide us and keep our hearts safe. You are the only rightful judge. Use me to lift up and bless those you have placed me with to serve and show your love. Amen

Written by Claire Moore

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

When my kids were young, there were lots of things that they said and did that I did not approve of and wanted to put a stop to. But when my goal was simply to make the annoying behaviour stop, my very wise husband would often remind me that our real end goal was to train our children’s hearts, not simply to control their behaviour.

These Bible verses in the book of James speak to this concept – that simply trying to control our own tongues is not the real end goal, and essentially not even possible unless we allow our hearts to be trained by God.

Matthew 12:34 tells us that “… the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” So if we find that unhelpful, self-centred, unloving words are coming out of our mouths, we’d best examine our hearts to uncover our deeper motivations rather than merely try to control our tongues.

Asking the Holy Spirit to reveal your deepest, darkest motivations of the heart is a scary and brave process for most of us, but also a very rewarding one.

I am learning to allow God the to opportunity to show me His love and acceptance in the middle of my faults and failings is powerful and liberating.

I am more deeply selfish and sinful than I ever dared imagine and more deeply loved by God than I ever dared hope for. Thank you, Jesus!

Written by Shelley Witt

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

So if my actions, what I do, is evidence of my Faith, then what will those around me understand about what I believe based on how I behaved yesterday??? Was I an accurate poster child for Jesus? Would an independent analysis show I am the sold out Bible believing faith filled person, I hope I am? What would the video playback look like? Am I trusting God with my problems and needs? Am I patient in situations that frustrate me? Are my actions generous? Am I kind, even if no one else is watching? When I make a mistake do I own it? It’s a tough question, but bottom line – God was there with me all day yesterday and saw everything I did and knows every thought I have. So what can I do today to make sure that my actions reflect and embody my faith?
Heavenly Father I thank you that each day you are with me guiding me. Lord show me those things in my heart that need to be corrected. Help me to be more like Jesus. Father I pray that all that I say and do today will bring glory to your name. In the name of Jesus. Amen

Written by Christine Knight

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Mercy triumphs over judgment says James.  This is a powerful statement that we do well to dwell on.  All too often we are quick to judgement, we make up our minds, form and express our opinions all too quickly and readily.  So often we have not investigated well, we have heard one side of the story which is about a third of the truth!  So Mercy triumphs over judgement – it allows for the space to be better informed, to wait a little longer for the Spirit to work in bringing a person to repentance or to show their folly in such a manner that it is clearly evident.  Mercy reminds us that we are in the same boat – forgiven!  This is not to say that judgements are not needed at times – but may our lives be filled with mercy so that our judgements require deep tears from tender hearts!

When next we are tempted to make a criticism, a judgement call may we hold fire until we are better informed.

Father may mercy so consume my heart that I hear your voice consistently!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

In the paragraph above, James has been talking about someone (a believer) who hears the word but doesn’t act on it and so in these 2 verses he’s paralleling someone who talks the talk of a believer but doesn’t act out his beliefs. James gives us examples of 2 groups of people who were the most vulnerable of their time, or today we could read those who are powerless, defenseless, poor, weak, wounded, those on the edges, at the bottom, on the outside …

How do I today, not just talk ‘hot air’, but put into practice my Christian beliefs?

Lord Jesus your word is so convicting, your heart for humanity so overwhelming. Holy Spirit keep my heart soft, my ears open and my tongue humbled that in my serving you I will not neglect to serve those who are most on your heart. Amen

Written by Suzie Hodgson

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James points out three things that get us into trouble. We don’t listen, we speak when we don’t have the right words to say and we get angry, and controlled by our emotions. How often has one of those been the cause of our trouble? Honestly, more than I want to admit.

And by our own efforts we can not master ourselves, we struggle to change, even temporarily.

But James tells us how to have victory over this. It is the Word of God, planted in our lives that will save us.

No matter how small the seed, it is the roots of a tree that breaks roads, footpaths and buildings. In the same way, though the Word may seem small to begin, when it is allowed to grow, encouraged to grow, that the pattern of sin is broken.

As the Word takes root in my life more and more, I listen more, speak the right words and the Holy Spirit is in control.

Father, thank you for sending your the Word. Let it take root in my heart as I yield to it more each day.

Written by Andrew Martin

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

This passage of scripture is very instructive to me, it tells me three things.

First, temptation is not sin. I should not feel guilty about being tempted. However, temptation is not from God and this brings me to the second point.

Temptation is not a place I want to hang out. It is like being in a room full of toxic gas. It may not kill me immediately, but with every passing second, it gets harder to escape and I get closer death. It is the same when we are being assailed with temptation, this is the time to run, to call out to the Lord and even call out to a friend – I need to do whatever it takes to breathe the fresh air of God’s promises again.

Finally, temptation always leads to sin if we allow ourselves to continue being tempted. And sin always leads to death if we do not repent of it. Alternatively, God promises a ‘crown of life’ for trusting in Him and fleeing temptation.

Lord, on paper the decision is easy, I always want life over death. But in the heat of the moment, with temptation raging, I have given way to sin many times before. Thank you for wiping out my sinners debt and thank you that I don’t have to sin, thank you that I don’t need to breathe the toxic air of temptation. Thank you for setting me free! Help me make the choices of a man set free from temptation to enjoy the life you offer. Amen

Written by Andrew Mellor

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

We have a family tree on our study door at home. It traces our family back to a First Fleet sailor, showing the generations descending down to me.

There is another birth date it doesn’t show – my birth in Christ. In 1982 Jesus revealed himself to me, and at that moment I knew that God had chosen me (v18) How? Through the “word of truth”, the gospel of love.

This rebirth was like a realignment of my spirit. Now my spirit was alive to the Holy Spirit who is God. It was like the compass had been set to true North and the track ahead previously hidden was now clear. I was reborn into God’s family. It is such a privilege to be a child of God, to have a Father who loves me, who smiles to hear my praises, rejoices in my service, strengthens me when I am weak and teaches me when I try to do it on my own. Simply, he cares for me.

My spirit gets misdirected sometimes still, anxious, overwhelmed by messages and priorities of people not in this family. Paul anticipated this when he wrote that we should “be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” My loving Father who chose me to be reborn has given me his Holy Spirit to clothe me in my new self, inside and out.

Heavenly Father, I am so happy to be born your child. My heart is yours. You know me as a parent knows a child. I pray that your powerful word of truth will bring my friends into your family too. Amen

Written by Claire Moore

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Here Peter uses the phrase ‘The day of the Lord’, which is a term used in multiple Old Testament prophesies referring to a day of God’s judgement.

We are told some things about this day:

1. It will come unexpectedly
2. It will involve the disintegration of the heavens and earth
3. All the works of the earth will be subject to the scrutiny of God’s judgement

In light of the coming disintegration of the material world and the judgement of our work, how should I be living?

If the material universe is to be destroyed, surely I would be foolish to place all my stock in material things. If we count our worth by material possessions, then when it is dissolved, we will have nothing.

Instead I should place my greatest efforts toward spiritual things – towards building God’s Kingdom which is eternal, not temporal. Jesus said, “When you pray, say, Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

I am challenged to consider where am I focusing too much on things that will pass away, rather on the eternal things that will not burn up in the fire?

Lord God, help me to daily keep my focus on praying and working towards Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on the earth.

Written by Shelley Witt

10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. 17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

There is a lot to this passage and it certainly doesn’t have all the nice ‘loved up’ version of Christianity in it. It describes people that have gone and said one thing but their actions are another, that these are a people enslaved. I think it is easy to skim these kinds of verses. They sometimes don’t seem to hit the mark because the people mentioned are ‘real bad’ people or sometimes, it is a little convicting.

But after reading this over, I can’t stop thinking about the question – am I enslaved to sin? Am I consistently tripping up on something? We’re not all perfect, so it is inevitable to make mistakes and sin. But I’ve realised that if I am declaring I am saved then what should result is a life of obedience to God. I, of course, will have a life that involves sin, but I need to be careful not to make sin a lifestyle causing me to be enslaved.

Are you enslaved with something? Does there need to be a lifestyle change to ensure obedience to God?

Lord, you know my heart, soul and life. Make me new and show me what needs to be cleaned up. Amen.

Written by Sophie Botta

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

For something a little different, I decided to paraphrase these verses.

“Sorry all, I know I might sound like a broken record but I am going to tell you again, and this will not be the last time I tell you either… because this is a true story, I witnessed it myself, as did James and John. And it was mind blowing. It changed my whole perspective. In that moment when I saw Jesus in his radiant glory and I heard God honour him with words of such intimacy and honour “This is my Son who I love and with whom I am delighted” it was then and there, on the mountain, that I realised who He really was. Suddenly I understood the Promises of old. In Jesus, the Son of God, they were fulfilled. No longer were they fading hopes and long awaited for words. No, then at that moment I could see they were embodied in this glorious and radiant Jesus. And I knew that they were real and true, and He was real and true. Really and truely the Messiah, the promised one. I gained a new admiration for the scriptures, truely they are Holy Spirit inspired. Man is only the tool for the writing.”

Note: If you would like to see the original account of the event that Peter refers to in this passage it is recorded in Matt 17:5, Mark 9:7 & Luke 9:35 and is often referred to as the Transfiguration, as Jesus is shown/revealed in all his radiant glory.

Sometimes it’s easy to get familiar with the stories of Jesus the man and lose sight of the majesty of who he really is. My mind finds it hard to hold the picture of Jesus the one who is fully man and yet also fully God. But He is that, as this passage so powerfully reminds us.

Jesus please reveal yourself to me, as you did to Peter. May I see your radiant glory, and get lost in awe and wonder. May I truely honour you with all that I am. May I love your word with a new passion. Thank you that your word is the Holy Spirit inspired book that is accessible to me every day to reveal Jesus.

Written by Ps. Zoe Stewart

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

The enemy’s actions are described earlier in the gospels, as like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, hidden, deceitful, blending in, almost stealth like. In today’s passage, the enemy is described as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. A roaring lion is hardly hidden, or stealthy prowling around, but is rather more obvious and easily seen, and heard.

But still the warning is to be self controlled, to be alert, to resist him, and to stand firm. For without these actions, the roaring lion might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing! We all therefore have a self responsibility to act on these virtues, which mainly come about by regular prayer and being fed by the Word.

It is important to note that in this passage, there are two points that show that we will surely face times of hardships. The phrase “resist him” indicates that we will face the enemy at times, and then “after you have suffered a little while” also demonstrates that the battle will occur and will not be easy.

But the wonderful exhortation is that the “God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, …..  will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. “ (NIV)

This is the promise we can take into any situation. And so friends, let us be, and encourage each other to be, self controlled, alert, to resist him, and to stand firm.

Father help us all, in Jesus’ Name. Amen

Written by Steve Fell

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Suffering. It’s not the easiest thing to deal with but it could be because I have a different view to suffering compared to God’s view.

I’m grateful that I don’t have to suffer as Jesus did by dying on a cross. Nor have I suffered publicly like Peter when he denied Christ. Peter was so distraught by what he had done that he wrote himself off, believing that God had cast him aside because he failed. Sometimes I feel the same way.

But this is not God’s view. Our Father didn’t leave Peter in his misery but instead restored him back to life.  And this is the viewpoint from which Peter writes. He writes from the other side of his suffering, from God’s viewpoint: don’t be surprised by suffering – it is a normal part of life. Where we might disqualify ourselves, God restores us. Through Peter, I am reminded not to write myself off but instead commit myself to my Father God and continue to do good.

Father, I thank you that You speak Your truth to me about life telling me that there will be hard times but I don’t have to give up or think I’ve disqualified myself but rather turn to You and commit myself to You again. Thank you for loving me graciously and kindly through every step of my life.

Written by Gab Martin