DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?

 

Friday, April 17, 2026

 

DO YOU REALLY WANT IT?

 

James 1:5-8

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

Jas 1:5 

If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. 

 

                We need wisdom to deal with some folks who drive us crazy! They do things they should not do and then tell us that we didn’t see what we clearly saw. Sometimes we believe the lie against our own senses. Psychologically, there is a word for it, and we need wisdom to combat it.

 

                James says that, if we ask for wisdom, God will give it to us – generously. But there is a catch. You have to ask without doubting. This is not referring to doubt regarding receiving the wisdom but doubting as to whether we really want it. We doubt whether we really want to know. This is self-doubt.

 

                Double-minded is from the Greek dipsuchos and it means “two-spirited; vacillating in opinion or purpose.” You can’t have two opposing opinions on the same matter, or you will tear yourself apart. Paralysis is the result.

 

                Begin with the attitude that you really WANT God’s wisdom on a matter and that you firmly intend to ACT on the wisdom God gives you even if God disagrees with you. The request for wisdom is set in the context of trials so don’t expect a calm to sweep over you before wisdom appears. Wisdom will sometimes appear within a storm.

 

Isa 30:20 

Though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of oppression, yet your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will [constantly] see your Teacher. 

Isa 30:21 

Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. 

 

Lord, even during a storm, let me hear Thy voice of wisdom. AMEN

 

THE GIFT OF FELLOWSHIP!

 

Thursday, April 16, 2026

 

THE GIFT OF FELLOWSHIP!

 

Mal 3:13-16

13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord . Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord  of hosts?

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16 Then they that feared the Lord  spake often one to another: and the Lord  hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord , and that thought upon his name.

 

          Malachi chapter three is about more than money! There have been so many references to verse 10 that it is easy to think that this chapter is all about tithing but it is actually a mirror of our current times. Worship had deteriorated into a series of forms and rituals while the hearts of many were asking if it was vain to serve God. Most saw no benefit in it but a few remained faithful.

 

          Merriam-Webster says that “fellowship” is “the condition of friendly relationship existing among persons; a group with similar interests.’ There are three characteristics given to those who were faithful.

 

          They feared the Lord! The word “fear” suggests a reverence that adjusts one’s morality. It is respect that causes one to change or to be different. It is respect with honor. It caused them to depart from evil and to keep God’s ordinances.

 

          They spoke often to one another! They mutually encouraged one another. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said: “Communion is strength; solitude is weakness. Alone, the fine old beech yields to the blast and lies prone on the meadow. In the forest, supporting each other, the trees laugh at the hurricane. The sheep of Jesus flock together. The social element is the genius of Christianity.”

 

          They thought on His name!  They meditated on the person of God. Much of our thinking is about ourselves; our needs and our comfort but these thought on the various aspects of God. God was in their heart. God listened in! When we are casually having fellowship with other believers God hears and records it.

 

Ps 119:63

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for the sweet fellowship of other believers. AMEN

 

 

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE!

 

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

 

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE!

 

James 4:5-7

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

2 Cor 12:9

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

 

          Only once, in James chapter 4 do we see this phrase. It is very interesting to me because James can sometimes come across as a bit harsh in his application of truth. Grace might have been reserved for John, or even Paul, but James also admits both the need and the supply. I don’t like being – or even feeling – weak. Neither did Paul! But in his weakness Paul experienced and learned to appreciate the grace of God.

 

          Your automobile is equipped with a gas pedal, or what we old timers used to call the foot-feed. When going uphill or in times of stress or strain the foot- feed fed more and more fuel to the engine which enabled the car to proceed. So, it is with the grace of God. It seems there is always sufficient grace for every need.

 

          Grace can be defined as God’s favor, kindness, and friendship. Dr. Charles Stanley said it is God's kindness toward humanity, without regard to the worth or merit of those who receive it, and without their deserving it. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the word “sufficient” has the idea of “raising a barrier.” So, we see that God raises a protective barrier against those things that distress us.

 

There is an old hymn written by Ann J. Flint.

 

1.    He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

2.    When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

3.    Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

(chorus)

4.    His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

 

Dear Lord, all I can say this morning is thank you for your sufficient grace. AMEN