Well, I finished the rest of James. It's a short book so I just decided to read the rest of it. It's also fitting because I finally cut out the person in my life who was trying to corrupt my relationship with God...his name was James. So, on the day I finish the book of James, I also get rid of the person James from my life. This seems fitting to me somehow.
Chapter 3 of James is about Taming of the Tongue. This is something I have an issue with whenever I'm angry, but also it is something I've had an issue with over the past couple of days because that "friend" is a curser. Ever other word is a cuss word. I'm realizing now just how many things I need to change in my life to get back on track with God. It'll just take one step at a time I suppose.
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8
In her post, Amelia wrote about the first part of James 4:8 so I decided to discuss the rest of it since this verse has also spoken to my heart. I feel like I'm kind of filthy spiritually. I feel like I sin left and right and it is just stacked upon me. It feels wrong and gross. I want to be able to blame it on this person I just kicked out of my life, but it is also on me. It is also me giving in to the temptations on my heart. If I were able to go against my temptations better, I wouldn't be as filthy as I am now. But coming to God I can become clean again by washing my hands and purifying my heart. I just need to remember this whenever I feel this way again. Come to God, confess my sins, and He will take them from me.
"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20
This one has a lot to do with Amelia, so pay attention, dear heart. I feel like I've been moving away from God for a while now. I've been wanting to move back toward Him, but never got motivated to pray or read my Bible in those times. Well, Amelia asked about this Bible study and since then it has helped burn it into my conscience that these are things I need to do. In doing so, this has pulled me closer to God and shown me things that I need to change about my life, sins I need to get rid of in my life. I am working on it and taking it one step at a time. But if it weren't for reading James yesterday I wouldn't have realized that I needed to kick the person James out of my life forever. So, by suggesting this Bible study Amelia has really shown me the sins I need to turn against. Thank you, AMELIA. I loves you.
1 comment:
I am really glad that I could help. I never thought of it "burning" into your conscience. I just knew that when I did the study with Jason, it helped me. We have both been struggling with things, so I figured this might be good for us. I also felt that it would bring us a little closer together. Not that we need it, being twins ;)
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