A Moment of Hope

by David Chadwick We recently looked at 15 key doctrines of Christianity. Doctrines are the deeply held beliefs of the Christian faith that have withstood time and testing. Each day, I urged you to think of each doctrine as a key, creating a collection of keys to use when faced with resistance, questions, or confusion. Heresies, on the other hand, are the beliefs and opinions that are contrary to the Christian faith. I want to share some of those with you this week so you can see where the ever so slight deviations can cause people to stray from the pure and simple Gospel. Let's begin with two heresies found in the New Testament: legalism and antinomianism, two extremes of one another. Legalism is seen in the work of the Judaizers. They were supposed Christians who believed that one is saved by grace AND by circumcision. Circumcision was the outward evidence of entrance into the Jewish community of faith. The Judaizers believed identifying with Jewish heritage in this way was required to be saved. Paul vociferously argued that if you have to add anything to grace then it's not grace. He wrote Galatians 1 largely to refute the Judaizers who followed him after he planted the Galatian church. As you read this chapter, you can sense Paul's frustration and anger toward the Judaizers. Another example of the Judaizers' influence on the early Christian church can be found in Acts 15 and what's called the Jerusalem Council. This meeting was called to determine if Gentiles needed to be circumcised for salvation. After much debate, the answer was a resounding, "No!" Paul and Barnabas were then sent out on their second missionary journey after this victory, inviting Gentiles to receive Jesus by grace through faith alone. Antinomianism, on the other hand, is the opposite of legalism. Another word for this would be licentiousness. It's the belief that because we are saved by grace and because the law has been canceled, we can keep on sinning and not worry about judgment from God. People use this heresy as a means to sin. This could not be farther from the truth! And Paul loudly refuted this in Romans 6:1: Can we purposely sin knowing grace saves us? Paul answers, "Absolutely not!" A right understanding of grace motivates Christians not to sin. May we never misuse the grace Jesus gave on the cross to err on either extreme of legalism or antinomianism.

by David Chadwick Who moved the stone? Our last proof of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is found in this question. In fact, it is essential to answer this question. Let me ask it again. Who moved the stone? It wasn't the Romans. They wanted a dead body behind the one ton stone. It wasn't the Jews. They had the same motivation as the Romans. They wanted Jesus dead. His body in the tomb forever. It wasn't Jesus's disciples. The tomb was surrounded by Roman guards and there was no way they would have been able to bypass all of them and move the stone. So, who moved it? Here is the truth of what happened to that stone. The power of God pushed the stone away! Maybe it was even an angel. The soldiers ended up in a trance. Dumbfounded. And Jesus walked right out in resurrection glory! Politely folding his head coverings on the way out. Frank Morrison, a noted lawyer and spiritual skeptic, put the Resurrection on trial. He set out to disprove the Resurrection of Jesus. He knew it was the heart of the Christian faith. Disprove it and Christianity is proven to be false. After all his examinations, Frank became a Christian. Devoted his entire life to Jesus. He went on to write a powerful book entitled, "Who Moved the Stone?" to prove his findings. It's a worthy read even today. And always remember: God didn't move the stone to let Jesus out, but to let us in. He wanted us to see the tomb empty! To have marked evidence of the Resurrection. To always enjoy and celebrate our risen King. The King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Ruler over all. In Jerusalem today, there are supposedly three different possible tombs for Jesus. We don't really know which one was Jesus's, if any of them were! But they all have one thing in common: they are empty! That's because Jesus is alive. Forever and ever alive! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick There are many proofs of the Resurrection. Proofs give evidence to the reality of something. I want you to walk in confidence that Jesus is God and is our risen Savior. Here is a significant proof to examine. Produce a body and Christianity dies. What do I mean by this? Well, it's pretty simple. If anyone could produce a dead body of Jesus, the game's over. Finished. Movement stopped. That is all it would have taken to crush the so-called "bogus lie" of Jesus's deity. One person could have stopped Christianity immediately by producing a body. The Christian faith is based entirely on the fact that Jesus's earthly body was raised from the dead. The Jews and Romans concocted a story that Jesus's disciples had come and stolen the body. But how? The tomb was sealed with a Roman seal. It could not be broken. There were Roman guards surrounding the burial place, knowing that the disciples might try to go and do something like this. They ruthlessly guarded the body knowing that if the body were to go missing, they would experience death on a cross like the dead prisoner within the tomb. And these were crack Roman guards. Their entire job training was to do this very job! Yet…the stone is removed. The body is gone. How did the disciples elude the Roman guards? Break the seal? Move the stone? The authorities never could produce a body. This one thing would have stopped the movement of Christianity, but it never happened. Why? This proof has to make you pause. Reflect. Wonder. Could the message of Jesus actually be true? Is Jesus really God? Why could no one produce a body? Because that body was raised from the dead! Jesus is alive and has a new resurrection body. We, too, will receive a resurrection body one day. Celebrate, dear friends! Jesus is alive! And Lord over all! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick I love the many proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus. They provide evidence to the message that has captured my heart and changed my life. I want to share this proof with you today: Jesus received worship from those who saw him after the Resurrection. Why is this significant? Because only God is worthy of worship. Only God can receive worship. If any creature demands your worship, you should adamantly refuse. Yet when Jesus appeared to Thomas in his resurrection, Thomas fell to his knees and said, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Note the personal "my." After much doubting and questioning, the reality of Jesus's Resurrection became personal to him. He saw the nail-marked hands and the scar in his side. He worshiped the risen Jesus. Jesus came to restore us to a relationship with God. He did not come to give us a set of rules and regulations. Jesus was now a personal Lord and God. And here's what's most astounding: Note, JESUS RECEIVED IT! There are other places in the Bible where angels appear to humans and they fall to their knees to worship the angel. But the angel always tells the humans to arise. Get up! The angels tell humans that they are NOT to be worshiped. They are creatures, not the Creator. Only the Creator is worthy of worship. But Jesus allows Thomas to worship him. Why? He has been raised from the dead. He is alive! Therefore, he is God! It's an audacious claim to deity! And he is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick There are so many proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As you look at them, it builds your faith and stirs up the reality of his message. These proofs give us evidence for the truth of the gospel and make us impervious to the influence of the enemy's lies. The change of Passover to the Lord's Table is our next proof. Remember what I shared with you about the Sabbath yesterday. Well, the Jews also had celebrated the Passover for 1200 years. It was introduced in the book of Exodus and they faithfully held onto it for 1200 years. Suddenly, it changed. Christians now celebrate the Lord's Table. Communion. The Last Supper in its place. Jesus is the Passover lamb. A lamb's blood is no longer needed for protection and sacrifice. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice. The Lord's Table is now the place to remember the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Christians can now look back at Passover and see how it showed whispers of grace that would ultimately be fulfilled through Jesus's life, death and resurrection. We can enjoy the beauty of Passover and even celebrate it. But it's no longer a requirement. Why? Because Jesus is alive! He has been raised from the dead. He is Lord over all. Jesus said to practice Communion regularly. So now faithful Christians do just that in remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection. Union life with Christ is one of the mysteriously powerful parts of the good news of Jesus Christ. We can abide in him and fellowship with him (John 15:7). We have been restored to the right relationship with the Creator of the universe. We can produce the fruit of his Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How? His life is in me. And mine is in him. That's the essence and meaning of the Lord's Table. Or Communion. Co-union. And every time we eat and partake of the bread and wine, we are reminded of our special union with Christ. Our risen and living Lord - forever! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick We are taking two weeks to look at 10 proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Proofs give evidence to something being true. I hope these proofs will also help you share your faith with skeptics and see their hearts become alive for Jesus. Here is today's proof: the change of the Sabbath from Friday to Sunday. For 1200 years, the Jews had celebrated Shabbat from 6:00p Friday to 6:00p Saturday. Really let that sink in. 1200 years! Imagine the depth of history and tradition in this way of life. Then suddenly, seemingly without any planning, the day of worship changed to Sunday - beginning with Sunday morning. Why? Because the empty tomb was discovered early Sunday morning. The Resurrection occurred on Sunday! It's the heart of the Christian faith; "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14). But it is true. Over 500 people saw Jesus alive. There were eyewitnesses galore - enough to change 1200 years of tradition and history! The Sabbath is now an invitation to remember the power of the Resurrection. It no longer has to happen on a specific day of the week. Ritualistic traditions don't hold the power. Jesus Christ does. May we live with the same radical obedience that Jewish people showed when they recognized the change of the Sabbath. May we be willing to lay aside traditions of man to stand boldly for Jesus. May we surrender our earthly methods and practices for the ways of Jesus and his kingdom. And may we see his kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Why? Because Jesus is alive! Risen! Forever and ever. _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick The life change of Peter is the next proof of the Resurrection of Jesus. My hope is that these proofs give you evidence for the Resurrection. And reasons to give to skeptics in your life who doubt Jesus's claim to be God and Lord over our lives. In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus called Peter to be one of his 12 apostles. Peter was a fisherman when Jesus gave him the famous invitation to follow him. He said that he would make him a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19). Peter immediately dropped his nets and followed Jesus. But when Jesus died on the cross, Peter fled. He was nowhere to be found. He had even denied he knew Jesus to protect himself. Yet his life and perspective suddenly changed. Why? Peter saw a resurrected Jesus. Jesus appeared to him (1 Corinthians 15:5). At that moment, Peter knew that he was alive! He knew everything Jesus said was true. He believed that he was God. That he really was the Messiah. That death could not hold him down. Can you imagine the wonder as Peter pieced together the reality of the Resurrection? Peter goes on to be martyred in Rome for his great faith in Jesus. Legend has it that he asked to be crucified with his face closest to the ground, for he was not worthy to die as his Lord and Savior had died. How do you explain such a dramatic life change? Someone who lied like a little child to avoid getting in trouble goes on to be martyred for the message of Jesus! Seeing the resurrected Jesus changed him forever! The Resurrection of Jesus is the proof of his divinity. Only one person has ever lived, died, been brought back to life and never died again: Jesus. Others have been raised from the dead, but have had to face death again. Jesus emptied himself, took on the form of a servant, and was born as a man (Philippians 2:7), but lived perfectly as God and became exalted and was bestowed the name above every name (Philippians 2:9). He now lives forever! Jesus is God! And worthy of all of our praise! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick One of the most significant proofs of the Resurrection is the life change that took place in those who were initially skeptics. The life change of Paul might be the most profound of them all. He persecuted and killed Christians for a living. In Acts 7, Paul was the one who oversaw Stephen's martyrdom. Stephen was brutally and mercilessly stoned. And as it was happening, he fell to his knees and asked the Lord to not hold that sin against his offenders (Acts 7:60). A profound story! Absolutely horrific! Yet Paul sat by and willingly approved. God granted Stephen's request for the mercy of his offenders, at least in part, through the salvation of Paul. How did this happen, you might ask? On the road to Damascus, Paul encountered the resurrected Jesus and it marked him forever (Acts 9). Paul obeyed Jesus's command to preach the gospel to the Gentile world. And Paul even went on to write approximately two-thirds of the New Testament. Outside of Jesus, Paul may be the most influential person in Christendom. Paul was eventually martyred by Nero in the early 60's AD. A bold and courageous carrier of the message of Jesus. He equipped so many people who went on to carry the message of Jesus, even after his death. Paul went from major persecutor to major proclaimer of Jesus's gospel of grace. What happened to him that caused such a dramatic life focus and change? The answer is simple: Paul was an eyewitness to the Resurrection. Paul's life transformation carried tremendous weight to those who heard his message. How do you explain this apart from the fact that Jesus is alive? Risen? And Lord over all the universe! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick I am going over proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. These proofs are evidence that Jesus is Lord. They should also help make you stand firm against the messaging that wants to convince this world that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is not real. There were many persecutors and critics of Jesus during his earthly ministry who experienced radical life change after they had seen him raised from the dead. These testimonies are most certainly proofs of the Resurrection. Today, let's look at James, Jesus's half-brother. His life change was profound. James was a critic during Jesus's ministry. In John 7:2-5, he begged Jesus to return home. Verse 5 reminds us that his own brothers did not believe in him. Yet, he saw a resurrected Jesus and his life was changed forever (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). James went on to become head of the Jerusalem church and is found in scripture proclaiming the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus (Acts 15:13-21). He demanded the gospel be available to the Gentiles. He knew everyone needed Jesus's grace. He went on to write the book of James in the New Testament. How do you account for this life change? He would say that it was because he had seen a risen Jesus. His Lord and Savior. Ours, too. From skeptic to believer. From resistant to accepting. From questioning to proclaiming. James experienced a radical transformation after seeing the Resurrection. It marked him. Changed him forever. To the point where he ended up dying a martyr. May each one of us live in such a way that gives testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus in our lives. May the risen Jesus mark us like it did James. And may we share that message in a way that draws others to the heart of God. Jesus is alive! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick We are looking at 10 proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus to help you stand against the lies of the enemy. Today's proof is that women were eyewitnesses to an empty tomb! In those days, women were second class citizens. They were not even granted the opportunity to be eyewitnesses at a trial. They were seen as less than. Their perspectives were rarely validated and often overlooked. Why is this significant? Well, if you wanted to fabricate a story back then, you would never dream of using women as your first eyewitnesses. In fact, you would go out of your way to use the most societally credible people as your eyewitnesses. Yet all four of the gospel accounts about Jesus's resurrection have women as the first eyewitnesses. Luke 24:10, for example, says, "Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles." This reality is shocking to say the least. And should give significant reason to pause. Women at the forefront of the story. The first eyewitnesses. Boldly leading the way in declaring the truth of the Resurrection. If someone wanted to sway an entire group of people with a false narrative, this would not be the most convincing way to do it. But that's the way God does things. He chooses the most unlikely evidence to prove his point. And it only makes his point more valid - especially to those of us reading it 2,000 years later. Hallelujah! Jesus is risen! He is alive! _______________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick Have you ever looked up the definition of the word proof? One definition is "the evidence or argument establishing or helping to establish a fact or the truth of a statement." When used as an adjective it is defined as "able to withstand something damaging; resistant." I am going to share ten proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For without the Resurrection, Christians are people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). Without the Resurrection, Christians don't have a faith! Each proof serves as evidence to the truth of his message. They allow you to give a defense of the hope that is in your heart (1 Peter 3:15). Here is the first one: People do not die for what they know is a lie. They may die for what they think is true. But if it is a lie, and they know it's a lie, they will not suffer persecution or lose their life for what they know is a lie. Think about 9/11. Extreme Muslim terrorists believed that by driving planes into buildings to kill infidels, they would be granted 70 plus virgins forever in paradise. Do you think they would have done this if they knew what they believed was a lie? Some have suggested the Resurrection was a legend, made up by the early disciples to keep Jesus's message of love going forward. But this suggestion does not make sense either. First, the disciples were faithful Jews, faithfully following the law which clearly states, "You shall not bear false witness" (Exodus 20:16). Proclaiming a message they knew to be a lie would be in direct violation of the moral law they so faithfully kept. Moreover, these followers of Jesus were mostly persecuted, beaten and even martyred for their faith. No one undergoes this kind of pain for a known lie! Human nature is self-protective, looking out for #1. Wouldn't you think that if they were getting physically tortured and knew it was all a big game, someone would have spoken up and said, "Just kidding! It's a lie!" But the early disciples didn't. They died saying, "Jesus is risen." Why? Because they had seen a risen Lord (Mark 16:5-7). They were eyewitnesses to this fact. It proves Jesus is God in human flesh. The Lord over the universe. And worthy of our worship and obedience. ___________________ Our "10 Proofs of the Resurrection" series was originally released in 2023. For additional resources on this subject, please visit our website.

by David Chadwick I am handing you your final key today. We are wrapping up a three week study of the key doctrines of the Christian faith. You should now have a deeper understanding of the timeless truths and beliefs that set apart the Christian faith. Each of these 15 keys is meant to unlock truths on which you can stand no matter what is thrown at you. Today's final key: eschatology. The doctrine of the last things. Let's dig in. Jesus ascended to heaven. But he told his followers that he would return one day and make all things new (Acts 1:9-11). He would restore this world to its original intent. The Kingdom of Heaven perfectly revealed everywhere. A return back to how God perfectly created this world. The Garden of Eden all over again in perfection before the fall in Genesis 3. Paul talks about the "groanings" in creation before Jesus's return (Romans 8:22-23). This is because there was a way it used to be before sin entered into the world. Even creation longs for the return to perfection. Some believe there will be a rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) where Jesus takes his church before the Great Tribulation (Revelation 6-18). This teaching stems from a belief that God has not destined his church to face God's enormous wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Others believe only in Jesus's second coming, with no rapture. Either way, Jesus will one day return and make this world new. He promised. And he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Jesus gave signs to look for before his coming. They are outlined in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13. It's easy to see how these prophecies are happening more and more. Like a woman whose birth pangs are becoming more and more intense and frequent before a new baby arrives. The reality of this promise should give all Christians a "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13) as we await this great moment. Living in "Imminence" (something the early church did) – that Jesus could return at any moment. We must remain ready. But how? Living in holiness, purity, service, and an urgency to share the gospel with the lost. May we be found faithful to him in all we are doing when Jesus returns!

by David Chadwick There are so many key doctrines that uphold the historical message of the Christian faith. These are the truths that differentiate a cultural Christian from those whose lives are yielded fully and have an allegiance to Jesus. The Trinity. That's today's key. It's a term never mentioned in the Bible, but has been historically used to explain the Godhead. Though never mentioned, the Trinity is clearly seen throughout the New Testament. Remember, the term Bible is also never mentioned in the Bible either! In Jesus's last words in Matthew 28:19-20, we are told to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Also, in Jesus's baptism in Matthew 3, the Father spoke to the Son who had just had the Holy Spirit descend on him like a dove. The Trinity. Such a beautiful doctrine. One God in three separate persons. Yes, it's certainly a mysterious doctrine, but it's clearly taught in the Bible. Who would want to worship a God who could be fully explained? If we were able to fully explain him, it would probably cause us to quest more and more to be God! Embracing mystery is part of what leaves room to worship him. Read Romans 8, for example. Look at each person in the Godhead working. The Trinity is also an imperative part of addressing God's love. How can God be love unless there is an object of his affection? With the Trinity, this problem is addressed. The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit loves the Father. So on and so forth. It's also why the angels and humans were created by God – to share in this love. It's so wonderful! You must be Trinitarian (believing in the Trinity) to be a Christian. It's not optional. It is a key doctrine to the Christian faith. The early church repeatedly fought away all heresies that attempted to deny the Trinity. We must do the same today!

by David Chadwick Every foundational doctrine of the Christian faith lays the groundwork for a strong and secure faith that should be able to stand against the resistance we will inevitably meet until Jesus returns. Take each of these keys and use them. Today's key: ecclesiology, the church. The ekklesia in Greek (ecclesia in Latin). The "called out" people of God. The Bride of Christ. The body of Christ. The family of God. The army of committed believers. Coming together regularly to worship Jesus and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. Jesus first mentions it in Matthew 16:18 when he talks about building his church, against whom the gates of hell will not prevail. This is the purpose of the church. To break down the gates of hell. To work on the offensive against Satan and his demons. The book of Ephesians is Paul's epistle that best talks about the church and its importance. Jesus loves his church. It's HIS bride. In fact, you can't say you love Jesus, but don't love his church. He is the bridegroom and adores his bride, as flawed as she might be this side of eternity. Every Christian needs to be connected to a local community of believers. If you are a member of the body of Christ, you must have a group of people with whom you can live on mission, serving and loving one another and the world around you. You're not called to be a spectator who goes and checks off the box. You're called to be involved, using your spiritual gifts to bless this world! The church was never meant to be a place for celebrity pastors. It was never intended to be a platform on which people could build a name for themselves. Unfortunately, there has been so much compromise within the church world. Many foundational principles of the faith have been overlooked in the name of growing a ministry. It's a travesty. If only pastors would remember that Jesus says, "I will build MY church." We certainly play a role, but his yoke is easy and burden is light (Matthew 11:30) and it is ultimately his job to build what was his in the first place! The pressure is off! The church exists for the edification of people and the glorification of Jesus. Plain and simple. It should be a place where everyone, especially pastors, are pointing the world to Jesus. HIS glory. HIS power. HIS might. Until he returns. And Jesus WILL return one day.

by David Chadwick Learning the key doctrines of the Christian faith is a crucial part of maturing in the faith. James 1:4 speaks to the importance of enduring trials to become perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. I believe these doctrines are important in helping us develop a strong core that can withstand life's trials and ultimately reach maturity. Continuing on with our next key is this: the doctrine of angelology and demonology (angels, Satan, and demons). All of these are creatures, originally created by God to expand his love to them. Always remember they are creatures. Only God is the Creator. Let's start with talking about angels. Angels are mentioned 273 times in the Bible. There are millions upon millions of angels in heaven. Hebrews 12:22 says they are "innumerable." Their purpose is to worship God and minister to God's elect on the earth (Hebrews 1:14). They even ministered to Jesus after Satan's temptations. Next is Satan and his demons. Satan was a high-ranking angel who rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:13-19). He wanted Jesus's position. He took one-third of the angels with him who became his army of demons (Revelation 12:9). Satan's job description? Kill, steal, and destroy God's creation and creatures (John 10:10). Satan and his armies are constantly doing warfare against God and his armies. It's called spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul talks about how Christians should help fight against a spiritual enemy with spiritual weapons. Though Satan is powerful, he is a defeated foe. Jesus destroyed Satan's power on the cross and as Christians, we are now able to live powerfully in the Spirit. We must fight FROM the victory that Jesus will have when he returns. We are more than conquerors because of Jesus, who loves us (Romans 8:37). Satan can only tempt us. We are the ones who make the choice whether to give in to his temptations or not. We have been given a future promise that must define our present reality. Jesus will bind Satan, throw him into a pit, and eventually throw him into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night forever (Revelation 20:1-3, Revelation 20:10). If you follow Jesus, you have won. Satan is a defeated foe. And choose to stand confidently, assured of this future hope!

by David Chadwick This week, I will give you five final key doctrines of the Christian faith. These truths are foundational to our faith. They are essentials. We cannot add to them or take away from them. Today we focus on glorification – the final step in our redemption after justification and sanctification (Romans 8:29-30). It's when we all receive our eternal, material, perfected, glorified bodies. They will be like ours here, but without sin, flaws, disease, and imperfections. What a glorious day that will be! The Bible says that we move from glory to glory as we are transformed to live and look more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). Ultimately, we will appear with Christ in glory one day (Colossians 3:4). As God's children, we have not yet seen what will be, but when he appears again we shall be like him (1 John 3:2). Jesus was given his glorified resurrection body after he died on the cross, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven. He was given an eternal, material, flesh and blood body. How do we know this? Because the disciples saw him after this happened. When he came to the disciples after being raised from the dead, Jesus offered Thomas the opportunity to touch his nail scarred wrists and feet. This implies he both had an eternal body and that body had scars! Could it be that one day at the wedding feast of the Lamb, Jesus will serve us with those visible scars? And we will see these scars on his body forever? Always reminding us of his grace and the price he paid for us? How special would that be! Our glorified bodies will be perfect in every way. Free from sin, decay, disease, hurt, pain, shame. Stop and imagine that for a moment! And let it prompt you to worship our risen Lord Jesus!

by David Chadwick We are wrapping up week two with our tenth key doctrine of the Christian faith. I pray these keys continue to build you up with revelation, wisdom, knowledge and discernment. The doctrine of holiness, also known as sanctification, is today's key. If you remember, justification is the doctrine of forgiveness, when Christ's sacrifice made it "just as if we had never sinned." But it doesn't stop there. After justification, the Holy Spirit in us begins the process of inward sanctification. The process of making us holy. Being conformed to his image and likeness (Romans 8:29). Justification is a one-time event: forever forgiven. Sanctification, on the other hand, is a lifetime process that will continue until we die. We live in fallen human bodies, in a fallen world, with a furious enemy (and all of his demons) who hate us and want us to fail and to fall. We must put on the full armor of God each and every day and choose to obey Jesus until we meet him face to face (Ephesians 6:10-18). It takes work! Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Jesus makes us holy, but we are to partner with his finished work. God's truths, found in his Word and by his Spirit, will inwardly sanctify us until we see him return one day. In the process of sanctification, we can cling to the reality of Philippians 1:6. Jesus began the process of sanctification…and HE will be faithful to complete it! The old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17), but we must walk out this reality until the day we die! Learn the Word of God, my friends. Hide it deep in your heart (Psalm 119:11). Obey it. Be sanctified by God's truth because his Word is true (John 17:17). Then watch as your process of sanctification continues until you see Jesus face to face.

by David Chadwick Bibliology. Theology. Christology. Pneumatology. Anthropology. Hamartiology. Soteriology. Incarnation. If any of these words mean something to you, you've probably been journeying with me through some of the key doctrines of the Christian faith. I'd urge you to go back through and learn along with me. Today we pick up our ninth key: justification – the doctrine of forgiveness. Galatians 2:16 says, "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus took our sins upon himself on the cross and, in turn, offered us forgiveness. This forgiveness is given to us by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is a free gift. Not of works, for we could never do enough good works to earn God's favor in his perfect holiness. Justification is most easily remembered this way: when Jesus looks at us, it's "just as if we've never sinned." We are declared "justified." Our sins are gone forever. Thrown into the deepest heart of the sea. He paid the debtor's price for our sin. And now, like a slave who had someone pay the ransom price for his captivity, we are free. To live as the Father desires us to live. Justification is a legal term. An imputed righteousness. A declaration forever that we can now make in the face of the accuser: "Jesus died the death I should have died! In my place! And his resurrection not only proves he is God, but it declares me innocent. God accepted the atonement Jesus gave on my behalf!" 1 John 4:10 says, "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." God poured out his wrath for our sins on his Son! Why? For love! Sacrificial, unconditional love. Justification. What a wonderful word for followers of Jesus!

by David Chadwick Without physical keys, you are unable to get into a locked car or a locked house. Well, without these spiritual keys, I believe you are vulnerable to deception and may not be able to unlock truths that could set you eternally free. Study these doctrines. Learn them. Use them to gain perspectives you may not have had before. Today's key: incarnation – the doctrine of Jesus coming into the world. God is holy and hates our sin. But he also loves us so much. He created us, formed us, fashioned us for love. Sin got in the way! So, what does a loving Father do? Well, we see the account written so beautifully in God's Word! Jesus, the Second Person of the Godhead, was found with God from the beginning and in him was life and light (John 1:1-4). The Father then asked the Son to go and rescue us from our sin and from hell. The Son said yes. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among humanity, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Jesus willingly laid down his equality with God and was born as a human. Leaving his position next to the Father and taking on human flesh, he ran after us. The ultimate sacrifice and display of servitude. He humbled himself in obedience to the Father in heaven to the point of death, even a humiliating death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus. Perfect God. Perfect man. Born of Mary's womb. Conceived and created in her by the power of the Holy Spirit. Fully God. Fully human. He had to be both. Why, you might ask? Fully God to pay the price for our sins for only God can pay that price. Fully human to be able to take all of our sins as a man to succeed where Adam failed. The most miraculous story ever written!

by David Chadwick Each key doctrine of the Christian faith is meant to provide a strong and solid foundation on which we can stand. Matthew 7:25 reminds us that the house founded on the rock will stand through life's rain, floods, and winds. I want anyone who hears these words to build such a solid doctrinal foundation that you will be able to stand through anything. Today's key doctrine of the Christian faith is soteriology: the doctrine of salvation. Jesus came to rescue us from our sins, to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The salvation of Jesus doesn't just save us from physical death. It saves us for eternal life! It also motivates us to live on this side of eternity with purpose, vigor, and passion. Our lives have been saved for a purpose! Did you know Jesus talked more about hell than heaven? Matthew 10:28 says, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Without Jesus, hell is our eternity. It's a real place, originally created for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Not for you and me! But if we maintain our rebellion against God, it will become our eternal home as well. God in his perfect holiness cannot have anything to do with our sinfulness. It's an offense against a holy God. He rejects all sin. He must. Think in terms of a physically healthy body coming in contact with unhealth. The body's natural reaction is violently to reject it. So is God's holiness toward our sin. Otherwise, he would compromise on the things he deems true. To be "saved" means Jesus saves us from eternal separation from him. He saves us from hell and invites us into an eternal dwelling with him one day. That's the meaning of John 3:16: For God so loves us he sent his Son and if we believe in his death to forgive our sins, we will never die/perish but live forever. This message is radically life-changing for those who embrace it! Soteriology. The doctrine of salvation. Praise God for this gift of eternal life with Jesus!!

by David Chadwick We are starting week two of looking at 15 key doctrines of the Christian faith. I am handing a new key to you each day. My prayer is that you will keep these keys in your possession and use them to stand for truth. In the last days, we are told there will be times of difficulty (2 Timothy 3:1), scoffers (2 Peter 3:3), those who follow ungodly passions (Jude 1:18), and those who depart from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1). We must know the truth before being presented with an opportunity to be deceived. Today's key is the doctrine of sin, hamartiology. Please note the previous doctrine: anthropology. God created Adam and Eve sinless, with strict orders not to eat of a certain tree. What happened in the Garden of Eden when the devil tempted Adam and Eve and they chose to disobey? Sin entered the world. In Genesis 3:1-7, God had clearly warned them that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die – both spiritually and physically. And that is exactly what happened. This grave mistake paved the way for all of the world's problems that we are still experiencing today. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). We are all in Adam's loins and are therefore conceived in sin – the doctrine of original sin (Psalm 51). I like to say that we are all basically selfish and occasionally do good things because we have been created in the image of God. That image is still upon us, but because of sin, it's a flawed image. Jesus is the second Adam (Romans 5:12-19). Where Adam failed in his disobedience, Jesus succeeded through his perfect obedience. In Adam, we died. In Jesus, and his gift of salvation through the cross and the resurrection, we now live forever! Thank you, Jesus.

by David Chadwick Today, we wrap up our first week's exploration of some of the key doctrines of the Christian faith. These foundational truths are meant to help followers of Jesus stand confidently against the wiles of the enemy. The doctrine of humanity, also referred to as anthropology, is today's key. We know from Genesis 1:26-27 that humans were created in the image of God. Different and unique from all other animals in creation. Male and female. The crown of God's creation. Humans are the crown of God's creation. Adam and Eve were given dominion over all the world. They were called to dress, till, keep the land. To name and oversee all of the animals. To work the land because work was a good gift God gave humanity. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15). Adam was given mental and manual labor to do. Some note that humans were originally created a little less than the angels (Psalm 8). But after the Fall, and Jesus's entrance into the world and redemptive rescue mission, this all changed. Now, we have not only been saved, but adopted into God's family as his sons and daughters, thus lifting us up above the angels in God's mind. God loves us. He created us to share in the love that the Trinity knew among one another. This is why he created the angels as well. To expand his love. Can you imagine how much he loves us to have created us in the first place? Now, think about the kind of love that would go beyond that to send his son, Jesus, to rescue us and establish us permanently into his family as his adopted children! Heirs of every eternal possession he has! Understanding anthropology, the doctrine of humanity, should make the other doctrines we talked about this week come alive even more! Divine love displayed through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit invading broken humanity. What an incredible story!

by David Chadwick Each day over the next few weeks, I am handing you a key. Each key represents one of the key doctrines of the Christian faith. My prayer is that you will use each of these keys to unlock places of your heart to understand truths you may not have learned before. Additionally, I pray you will use each key to lock up any places that have left you susceptible and vulnerable to believing lies. Now, more than ever, in these last days, we must be students of God's Word and God's Spirit. We need to be grounded in truth and aware of his Spirit so as not to be deceived. Today's key: pneumatology. This is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. "Pneuma" is the Greek word for "spirit." We see the Holy Spirit in the earliest verses of the creation account. Genesis 1:1-2 says that the Spirit of God was hovering over the water. Imagine a hovercraft for a moment. That's what the Spirit of God was doing over the formless void of the earth. Remember the Latin phrase "ex nihilo" from a couple days ago? The doctrine of theology shows us that out of nothingness God began to order this world. Isn't it magnificent to picture God the Father, in alignment with Jesus, working together with the Spirit hovering over the waters to create an earth out of nothing? What a wonder! In Hebrew, the term for creating something out of nothing is "bara" (in direct contradiction to the term "asa," also used in Genesis 1, which means creation from something). The divinity and majesty of our Father is woven throughout creation. From the New Testament standpoint, we see the mysterious working of "bara" once again. The Spirit takes our hearts, dead in our sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:2), "formless and void," and breathes life into us. From nothing, he makes us into a new creation! The old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). It's all God's work! And he deserves all the glory in the power of his Spirit!

by David Chadwick More and more, we are finding ourselves in days where the bride of Christ must be equipped with truths to stand in the midst of a depraved and declining culture. There are many key doctrines of the faith that we must know. Today we will look at Christology. The doctrine of Jesus. Jesus is the second person of the Godhead. You see this hint in Genesis 1 when God said, "Let us create man in our image." Notice the plural references. God does not say, "Let me create man in my image." He says, "us" and "our" implying a communal and plural nature of the Godhead in one God in three persons, a doctrine we know as the Trinity. The angels don't create. So, God must be talking about the plurality of the Godhead. Read Colossians 1:15-20. It is so powerful. Jesus is clearly not a creature. He is "the image of the invisible God." He is "the head of the body, the church." Jesus Christ is the Creator of the world. Verse 16 says that "in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth." These truths should fill our hearts with awe and wonder. We see this again in the prologue to John. John 1:1-3 and John 1:14 speak to the doctrine of Jesus. The Word (the logic/mind of God) became flesh and dwelt among us. We will dig deeper into this next week with the doctrine of the Incarnation. Stay tuned! For now, I invite you to fix your eyes on Jesus. Worship him. Respect him. Praise him. The doctrine of Christ should provoke us to live our lives with an eternal mindset. And one committed to glorify and serve him every day of our lives. Belief must always translate to behavior. If it doesn't, do we really believe it?

by David Chadwick Over the next few weeks, I am going to be handing you a different key each day. Each key represents one of the key doctrines of the Christian faith. These are the foundational principles and beliefs that guide us as followers of Jesus. I pray you use these keys to open up doors you may have never walked through before now. And as you do, I pray you will be strengthened and edified. Following Jesus is not a one time decision. It's a life of exploration, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. We must grow in all of these things by spending time in worship, study of the Word, prayer, and time with other believers. Today's key: theology. Theology is the study of God and the revelation of himself. One of the most important attributes of God is this: God created everything – from nothing (Genesis 1:1). "Ex nihilo" is the fancy Latin word that means "creation from nothing." Humans always create from something. For example, we need a tree to make a desk. We need metal to build a car. We need rocks to build a stone wall. Not God. He created everything from nothing. This is such a strong argument for the existence of God. You simply can't make something from nothing unless you're the Almighty One. In turn, if God exists and he is the Creator, then we must believe that he is sovereign over all including history, this world, and everything to come. It means that his providence guides everything. It also means he is working everything together for our good and his glory (which is called the Providence of God—Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28). We can trust God wholeheartedly when things don't go well, knowing he is working to knit, form and fashion every piece of history into a beautiful tapestry that displays his grace!

by David Chadwick Over the next three weeks, I am going to take you on an in depth journey to explore many key doctrines of the Christian faith. We will look at 15 key tenets of what we uphold to be true as followers of Jesus. For those of you who have asked where I stand theologically on certain issues, you will see it clearly laid out here over the next few weeks. In our Western civilization, where people are typically highly educated and equally deceived, I find it extremely important to become learned in these things. Think of each day as a key. Collect them and use them to open doors you may not have been able to open before. And use them to refute lies in the culture and heresies in theology. Today's key: Bibliology. This is just a fancy word to speak to the infallibility of the Word of God. There is one major theme in God's Word: Jesus came to live the life we cannot live, die the death we all deserved because of our sins, and rise from the dead to give us the gift of eternal life. The Bible was written by 40 authors, on three different continents, in three different languages, over a period of 1200 plus years with one central message: how to go to heaven through Jesus. Coincidence? How could so many different pieces over many years seamlessly connect across authors and geographic locations to tell the greatest story ever told? I think not! I believe it happened because the Bible is "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:15-16). The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through apostles and prophets. Fallible men who heard from the Holy Spirit and wrote down God's words to them. It's miraculous. This same Holy Spirit then guided men to collect and put these 66 books together over time to form what we know is the Holy Bible. It's either true or it's not. Followers of Jesus, professing Christianity for centuries, have believed it is the infallible Word of God. That's why Christians have often been called "people of the book." This doctrine is critical to the foundation of our faith. In these strange days, dear friends, choose to embrace the veracity of bibliology. The authority of the Bible is a key doctrine!

by Marilynn Chadwick My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth... (James 5:19 NIV) Does your mind ever wander? Mine does. I sometimes need reminders to stay alert—especially when it comes to listening to God. Too many voices clamor for my attention. Human nature can be weak and unpredictable. Eighteenth century hymn writer, Robert Robinson, must have felt the same way when he wrote this line from the great hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing: "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love..." In our journey through James, we've seen a glimpse into his heart. In five short chapters, he has given us a how-to manual for Christian living. And like any good coach, James encourages us to develop a powerful and vibrant faith that can withstand the storms of life. James longs to see a strong community of sturdy believers. He warns us about things like selfish ambition, prayerlessness, and materialism that distract and divide us. James gives one final caution—a sober warning about wandering away from the truth. The Greek word translated wander means "to be deceived or deluded." It is related to words such as error and deception. "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:19,20). Do you see the connection here between wandering and believing a lie? A wanderer has been deceived by some error. False teaching and the love of money are among the many causes of wandering, according to James. But behind these and all other lies lurks the devil—the father of lies. Wandering is the path of least resistance. As I used to tell my kids, the path of least resistance will eventually become the hardest hill you'll ever climb. Shiny decoys and alluring lies have always enticed us humans to wander. Why should the devil try any new tricks when his old ones work so well? Lord, let these lines from Robert Robinson's hymn become our fervent prayer. Guard us against wandering: "O to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the one I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."

by Marilynn Chadwick Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly... (James 5:17 NIV) Elijah prayed earnestly. The phrase "prayed earnestly" comes from two words meaning "to pray" and "prayer." Elijah "prayed with prayer." This unusual expression indicates intensity. Elijah prayed hard. He got results. When Elijah prayed, things happened. Elijah prayed that God would give a wake-up call to the unfaithful, Baal-worshiping children of Israel by withholding rain from their land. God answered Elijah's prayer and it didn't rain for three and a half years! Then, he had a show-down with four hundred demonized prophets of Baal in what has been called the "Super Bowl of faith." Afterwards, Elijah prayed that God would restore rain to the land, and it began to pour! The stories of Elijah's prayer exploits are some of my favorites—he's become one of my mentors in prayer. James reminds us that Elijah was ordinary. But his prayers were anything but. "Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops" (James 5:17). What were the "Elijah factors" that gave super-power to his prayers? For starters, whenever Elijah heard the "word of the Lord," he obeyed. Even if that meant hiding in a brook and receiving his food from ravens (1 Kings 17:2-6). What's more, he had great courage to stand alone against the prophets of Baal and the wayward Israelites (1 Kings 18:20-40). And when Elijah fell into despair after hearing of Queen Jezebel's murderous threats, he sought the Lord (1 Kings 19). When Elijah broke, he knew where to run. He ran to God. In short, Elijah was a powerful man of prayer because he heard and obeyed the voice of the Lord. This kind of intimacy with God is available to each of us. Elijah was human just like us. But he prayed earnestly. Will we? Lord, forgive my limp and shallow prayers. Sometimes I pray like I don't expect an answer and wouldn't recognize one if it hit me between the eyes. Your Word has jolted me into an audacious prayer life. Help me to watch and listen for your voice. Elijah prayed big and bold. I commit today to listen to your Word like Elijah did. Make me quick to obey your voice…no matter what obstacles I may face!

by Marilynn Chadwick The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV) I work hard at prayer because I believe prayer works. Or rather I should say God works in response to prayer. The tension between how God's sovereign will and my prayer work together is a mystery. But James is clear. Prayer is to be our first response for all of life's situations. Prayer is about a relationship with God. But it's also productive—it accomplishes something. I'll say it again. Prayer works. Just how does prayer work? What are the conditions for power-filled prayers? James gives us some tips. He talks in the previous verse about how the "prayer of faith" will heal the sick person (James 5:15). But in verse 16, he raises the bar. It's the prayer of faith offered by the "righteous" that works best. I especially like the Amplified version: "The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]" (James 5:16 AMP). If we glance over this verse too quickly, we can get weighed down by thinking we have to be "good enough" to earn answers to our prayers. However, nothing could be further from the truth. James would encourage us to be well-grounded in the biblical concept of "righteousness." What we could never do for ourselves, Jesus did for us through the cross. We're saved "by grace through faith," a free gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). The Greek word translated "prayer" in this verse, deesis, is different from the previous word James used for prayer. It describes urgent prayer and can mean "to be impoverished." James is talking about desperate prayer—more like begging. When you pray in this way, you are coming "needy" to God. A beggar. A sinner, saved by grace. But you're wearing Christ's robe of righteousness, so you can approach God with bold faith that he can do anything! The result? James tells us this kind of prayer is "powerful and effective." It's prayer on steroids. Power-prayer! Moreover, the word in this verse translated "effective," energeo, is where we get the word energy. It means to "set in motion; to cause something to happen." This kind of prayer is not only desperate, it's active. It gets results. In short, it works. James wants to shake us free from lazy prayers and low expectations. Old "camel knees" knew the extraordinary power available through prayer. He wants us to know this power, too!

by Marilynn Chadwick Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord's name. (James 5:14 AMPC) Sick. Worn out. Weighed down by sin? James prescribes prayer for life's troubles. Funny how our hearts turn to God when we're desperate. The most often-prayed prayer to reach heaven is probably, "Help!" When my children were little, I remember feeling especially close to them when they were sick. In much the same way, I wonder if God feels near to us when we're in distress. James encourages us to cry out to God during our times of sickness. We're also to ask the spiritual leaders to pray for our healing. The leaders are instructed to pray over the sick person, but they are also to anoint him or her with oil. The use of oil in this context is not strictly spiritual. The word translated "anoint" can also indicate a medicinal purpose. In other words, when someone is sick, prayer and medicine work together in the healing process. I have a doctor friend who sees his role as part of the church's call to minister to the sick. I like the Amplified version's description of what happens to the sick person as a result of the church's prayer: "And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:15 AMPC). I'm acquainted with a group of strong believers in India who plant churches in remote villages where medical care is scant. Grave illnesses often threaten the lives of villagers. If a doctor can be found—a rarity in itself—the medical treatments often fail. Villagers cry out to any number of countless Indian gods, to no avail. Finally, in desperation, villagers often call upon one of these church planters, to pray for their dying loved ones. Time and time again God has miraculously healed the sick in response to prayer. The result? Entire villages have put their trust in Jesus Christ, the "one true God who heals!" But notice the second part of James 5:15. Tucked in, almost as an afterthought, James reminds us that if the person being prayed for has sinned, he will not only be healed, but also forgiven. Indian believers are amazed when they realize the one true God who heals the sick also forgives their sins. What a joy for those long held captive by generations of fear! And what joy for us to be reminded today that we can come to God in prayer—trusting his Son to save us, heal us, and set us free from our sins. Prayer is powerful stuff! Lord, when I am sick or burdened, don't let me struggle alone. Remind me to ask others to pray for me, to lift my arms when I am weak, and to intercede for forgiveness when I sin. Help me to realize the connection we share as members of the body of Christ. Together, let us experience even greater power in our prayers!

by Marilynn Chadwick You boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:16 NIV) Boasting. It's practically a national pastime. American as apple pie. Our athletes swagger. Our politicians crow. Bumper stickers flaunt our favorite teams, super kids, or alma maters. Think about it. Our talents, treasures, and triumphs win us bragging rights. At times, we all like to toot our own horn. I grew up in the deep South where we had an expression for the ultimate boast: "No brag. Just fact." What's so wrong with a little dose of healthy pride? The dictionary defines boast this way: "To talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities." James stops us dead in our self-congratulatory tracks. He challenges not just our pride of accomplishment, but also our presumptuous plans: "Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money…You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and we shall do this or that [thing]. But as it is, you boast [falsely] in your presumption and your self-conceit. All such boasting is wrong. So, any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:13-17 AMPC). James' words make me squirm. I'm one who is more comfortable with all my plans firmly in place. But he warns me not to boast of my future plans. Boasting is unbecoming for the believer in Jesus. It's also unrealistic. For as James reminds us, we're not in control of our lives. The New Testament word for boast means "head held high." It also indicates "praise or glory." So if we boast about ourselves, we glorify ourselves. The Hebrew word for boast, halal, also means "to glorify." From halal, we get Hallelujah, which means "to glorify Yahweh." We can boast about ourselves, or we can boast about God. Paul writes, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31). When tempted to boast, James encourages us to humble ourselves instead. "Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:10). We're to trust God to lift us up in his timing. God loves to honor His children, but in a manner that's for our good and his glory. Today, I think I'll still set some goals and plan ahead. But first, I intend to seek God's will, cover my plans in prayer, and hold them all with a loose grip. Lord, thank you for reminding me of my humanity. You are God. I am not. Most trouble comes when I get that wrong. If I could gain complete control of my world for just one minute, I would stand aghast at my weakness. No wonder Eve hid herself in shame after she tried to become "like God." I am not equipped to run your world, or even my own little world. I can rest in the reminder of your sovereign control over every aspect of my life. And I humble myself before you, knowing that you will lift me up in your way and in your time as I trust in you.

by Marilynn Chadwick Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13 NIV) Humility. It's the virtue that gets lost in the speed of our fast-track living. From the Greek word, prautes, humility means "gentleness, not born in weakness, but in power." I've heard humility often referred to as "bridled power." James tells us a little secret. True humility comes from wisdom. But here's the catch. It's only the heavenly version of wisdom which produces humility. Counterfeit, or earthly wisdom, is simply the veneer over hidden pride. James exposes the dangerous underbelly of earthly wisdom: "For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices" (James 3:16 AMPC). Envy, rivalry, selfish ambition. All symptoms of earthly wisdom. But James digs deeper. Such wisdom is not only unspiritual, he warns, it's actually from the devil. This kind of wisdom trips us up in our faith walk and gives birth to all kinds of evil. The devil has no new tricks. He dangled the very same earthly wisdom to tempt Eve. When she saw "...the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…" (Genesis 3:6 AMPC). No wonder the devil still tempts us with the same lure. It works! It's important we learn to seek "heavenly" wisdom, while also asking the Holy Spirit to make us alert to the dangers of earthly wisdom. Lord, help us resist the temptations of earthly wisdom. False fruit may look appealing but tempts us to become filled with pride and self-righteousness. Give us your kind of true wisdom. It always comes through humility—bridled power—and prompts us to look up and lean only on you.

by Marilynn Chadwick 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? (James 2:25 NIV) Rahab the prostitute becomes Rahab the righteous. How can this be? A common harlot turned hero in Joshua's battle at Jericho. A most unlikely name in Matthew's genealogy of the Messiah (Matthew 1:5). James delights in the upside-down-world of grace where the currency is not self-righteousness, but a simple, childlike faith. He confronts us with God's audacious grace. How did Rahab make the quantum leap from prostitute to believer? From dead to living faith. James links Rahab's actions—the protection of Joshua and the spies—to her heart of faith. Somehow, she had come to believe in the Lord. "I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us," she confided to the spies as she hid them from their pursuers (Joshua 2:8). God considered Rahab righteous because of her faith. Her faith gave birth to action. James makes the link between living faith and obedience: "The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn't her action in hiding God's spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse" (James 2:25-26 MSG). For her giant faith, Rahab is counted among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, often called the "Hall of Fame of Faith." "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient" (Hebrews 11:31). The word translated "disobedient," apeitheo, comes from two words which mean "without" and "faith." Again, we see the connection between living faith and action. A disobedient heart is an unbelieving heart. Once again, God's Word drives this point home. Do you struggle with an unbelieving heart? Reflect on areas where you may need to wrestle your doubts and fears to the ground and step out in living faith. Lord, I want a bold and daring faith like Rahab. I marvel at the courage of a common harlot who became a hero of faith. She pleased you greatly with her living faith. Show me how to risk all, to resist fear, and to step out in action in response to your Word. Today. Now.

by Marilynn Chadwick Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17 NIV) Action. Movement. Progress. Results in life matter. James challenges us to consider our results—the bottom line of our beliefs. What we believe impacts how we live. But can our actions ever make us good enough for God? Does the salvation of our souls depend upon how well we live out the commandments? Must we work our way to heaven? Absolutely not! Our focus today is on the word "action." Let's see what James has to say about the importance of our actions: "So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead)" (James 2:17 AMPC). These words have sparked controversy for centuries. But the exhortation here is not so much about how we get "saved." Rather, what are the characteristics of saving faith? Quite simply, if faith has no corresponding actions, it's not real faith, James argues. Outward actions are merely evidence that our faith is alive and kicking. Let me give you a practical illustration. I have two flower arrangements in my kitchen window. One is a beautiful vase of freshly cut flowers. Beautiful, but dead—those flowers can never reproduce. The other container holds a lovely potted bloom, its roots surrounded by soil, ready for planting. It will live and produce new blooms...again and again. This flower is alive. In a similar way, true faith, by its very nature, will produce actions that correspond to our beliefs. This kind of faith is alive. If you have trusted Jesus for your salvation—accepting his death and resurrection as payment for your sins—you are "saved." Your righteousness is settled. You are made perfect in God's sight by grace through faith. Period. Such faith is alive and will naturally produce actions. This does not mean you are perfect all at once or that you will never fail. But you are alive, forever a member of God's family. Once that question is settled, then ask yourself this question: Since I believe, what is God asking me to do as a "corresponding act of obedience?" God's Word is also "alive" (Hebrews 4:12). It tells us in practical terms how to live out our beliefs. The Holy Spirit gives us the power we need to follow the commands in Scripture. Today, listen for your marching orders. What actions will you take after you read and meditate upon God's living Word? Lord, help me have faith that is not only alive, but active. I come to your Word for life, power, and inspiration. Remind me to care for the poor and the poor in Spirit. Give me your eyes as I go about my day and nudge me when to give a kind word, a helping hand, a few dollars. Prick my heart with a fresh urgency. Break my heart for what breaks yours.

by Marilynn Chadwick Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:27 NLT) "I got religion" was the folksy expression I sometimes heard growing up in the deep South when someone accepted Jesus. As for me, I spent most of my high school years running away from religion. And from God. But the Lord lovingly pursued me and, in time, I surrendered to his free gift of grace. I came to understand that following Jesus was about a relationship—not a religion. Salvation was made possible only through the costly blood of God's Son. No wonder they call it "Amazing Grace." James prods us to practice true religion. He's not talking here about religion as a quick ticket to heaven. Rather, "religion," in this context, refers to the practical expression of our devotion to the Lord: "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you" (James 1:27). The Greek word translated "religion" is threskos—seldom used in the New Testament. It describes outward service rather than inward piety. It's all about our actions. True religion, according to James, must involve acts of mercy, love, and holiness. Let's look at this same verse in the Amplified Bible: "External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world" (James 1:27 AMPC). We are saved only by grace through faith. We must never stray from grace as the foundation for all our works. Good works cannot earn our salvation. But if we truly want to please the Lord, we'll be intentional to pour our life out in service to the hurting ones around us. Especially the widows and orphans. But James also reminds us we must never forget the purity of our own life. We are called to holiness. That's the kind of religion that pleases the Lord. So, let's ask God to show us who is on his heart. May we be sensitive to his Spirit, alert to practical ways we can serve those in need. And while we're at it, let's pray for the Holy Spirit to correct us in areas we need to clean up—it's far too easy to slide into the ways of the world. Today, as we step out into our world, let's dare to pray the prayer God always answers: Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22 NIV) To execute is to translate ideas into actions. For any business, the ability to execute is critical to the bottom line. In spiritual matters, we execute when we live out the truths we've learned in Scripture—we put feet on our faith. The book of James exhorts believers to execute—to be doers as well as hearers of God's Word. "Faith without works is dead," he challenges (James 2:26 NKJV). His words can make us squirm. Sometimes a single word may be just the inspiration that moves us to action. As we continue our journey through James, let's pause and reflect. James calls us in these verses to dig deep. Do we really believe our beliefs, or do we merely hold an intellectual assent to the faith? "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do" (James 1:22-25). Some believe James treads dangerously close to a works-based theology. Reformation champion, Martin Luther is said to have called James an "epistle of straw" and thought it shouldn't even be included in the New Testament. I disagree. In fact, the book of James has been one of my strongest faith-builders in the entire New Testament. James has a way of putting me into hard places that grow my trust in God. Do I truly believe that Jesus' death and resurrection covered my sin? If so, that belief should propel me into a life of action and good deeds. Have I found practical ways to be both a hearer and a doer of God's commands and his calling? Mother eagles are known to be quite nurturing. Yet their method for teaching their young ones to fly is a swift push out of the nest! They swoop down and catch the baby eaglets as they falter, repeating the flight lesson again and again until the little ones are soaring like...eagles! Just like a mama eagle, James pushes us out of our cozy nest of faith with a call to action. We may hear the Holy Spirit whisper, "Go there, to that one who needs the Father's love. Serve this broken one over here. Share your living water with this thirsty one." Our heart begins to beat faster in response to the Holy Spirit's promptings. We step out…take a risk…and find that our faith takes wings. Our trust grows big, and before you know it, we will be soaring like an eagle!

by Marilynn Chadwick Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16 NIV) Confession. It's good for the soul. And according to James, it's good for the body, too. He shows a link between the confessing of our sins and the healing of our sickness. Another form of prayer, confession, is simply admitting our sins to God and to our fellow believers. It's been said that our secrets make us sick. Confession brings our sin into the light. Look what happens next. "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven" (James 5:15 NIV). James uses an interesting word here for sickness. In addition to illness, it can mean "weary, fatigued, mentally drained, exhausted." Sin not only separates us from God, it's downright exhausting. Confession of our sins is the first step toward healing—bringing our sins "out" in front of others. I don't think it matters whether we confess our shortfalls to one, two, or ten friends. The idea is to acknowledge our failure before God and others. This takes the stinger out of our soul and opens ourselves to healing. James reminds us that the prayer of faith is powerful enough to heal both our body and our soul. Do you have someone to whom you can freely confess your sins? I encourage you to pause and think about your relationships. We all need accountability. Without it, we can't grow as God intended and we sure can't experience freedom from sin. Following Christ was never meant to be a solo journey. A courageous young friend once took James' admonition seriously. Eager to grow in her faith walk, she emailed a few of her close friends and family these words: I am reflecting on areas of growth and want to understand some of my hang ups. You've been an integral part of my life and have seen my good, bad, and ugly. Would you speak into my life about anything you see that hinders the future God has called me to? Thanks for helping me in my journey toward holiness. Might we be courageous today to not only confess our known sins to each other but to seek feedback from those who know and love us? Through confession, let's take the stinger out of our soul and open the door to God's provision of freedom, health, and holiness.

by Marilynn Chadwick If one of you is having troubles, he should pray. (James 5:13 ICB) Trouble. What's your reaction to times of trouble? James gives a simple prescription: Prayer. But instead of being our first response, prayer is often an afterthought. We remember to pray only after we've exhausted ourselves trying to fix the trouble—if we remember at all. The word for trouble in the Greek language, kakopatheo, comes from two words which mean "to suffer," and "evil." James uses a broad brush to describe most any kind of hardship we might endure. "If one of you is having troubles, he should pray. If one of you is happy, he should sing praises" (James 5:13). We see a couple of kinds of prayer in today's verse: Petition and praise. Both have their place in the life of a believer. When trouble hits, we're to pray to God for help. The word for prayer used here comes from a Greek word that means "to wish." This kind of petition can be very specific in nature. When you're in trouble, you need help. Prayer is a powerful solution when I'm in trouble only if I believe God has the power to change my situation. But what about those times when you're happy? Also time to pray, according to James. He reminds us to praise—another kind of prayer. We can sing songs in our heart (or out loud) to God. Through the prayer of praise, we invite the Lord into our times of happiness. Sometimes life is good. Other times, it's marred by trouble. In either situation, we can draw comfort, encouragement, and joy through prayer, because as James reminds us, prayer works. "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16 NIV). Lord, remind me to pray. Let prayer become my first response. When prayer is foremost in my mind, Lord, it shows I'm learning to trust you. Prayer is all about the relationship with you. Prayer works. The more watchful I become, the more I notice your answers. Prayer is my pipeline to your heart. And as I am learning, that's the best reward of all.

by Marilynn Chadwick We count as blessed those who have persevered. (James 5:11 NIV) "Better not pray for patience," a friend once warned. "The Lord will be sure to send you some trouble!" I'm not sure I agree with her theology. Rather, I believe tough times come because we live in a fallen world where hardship and pain are simply a reality. Jesus himself warns, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). James reminds us that if we persevere—holding up patiently under trial—we will be blessed. Happy. Fortunate. Even joyful (James 1:2-4). The word patience translated, makrothymia, comes from two words which mean "long" and "anger." A patient person is "long-suffering" as opposed to one who gives in to hasty anger. James encourages us to observe the farmer as an example of patience: "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near" (James 5:7,8). I have to confess I'm not eager to walk through circumstances that build patience. Be honest. How often do you see the words patient and happy in the same sentence? But God promises to transform our hard places into places of joy. Christians who have suffered persecution in dangerous places tell of how God gave them supernatural patience and even joy right in the middle of their afflictions! My friend Ange's family was torn apart during the Rwandan genocide. When fleeing from the soldiers, she became separated from her husband Emanuel, not knowing his whereabouts until they were miraculously reunited after eight long years of searching for each other! When I asked Ange how she survived, she answered, "I stood on Romans 5:3-5. God promised me that I could rejoice in my sufferings. Perseverance produces character, and character hope." "And hope," she added softly, "does not disappoint us" (Romans 5:5 NASB). Perhaps we could learn a lesson from believers like Ange who follow Christ in hard places where persecution and hardship are a daily threat. As we look at their patience in the face of suffering, let's take heart from their example and learn to stand firm in our own trials.

by Marilynn Chadwick Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7 NIV) Learning how to resist the devil is the key to victory in spiritual warfare. God's Word is fundamental in our fight. It's also crucial to pray. But James reminds us that we can't beat the devil unless we resist. To resist is "to exert force in opposition." Spiritual victory requires spiritual muscles. James coaches us to take a forceful stand against the devil's temptation, while also asserting our wills to obey God. Nowhere is this twin command clearer than in today's verses: "So place yourselves under God's authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you" (James 4:7 GOD'S WORD Translation). The Bible reveals the spiritual nature of our battle. We're told to be alert to the devil's schemes and take up our weapons of war. James points out we can't resist the devil without first submitting our wills to God. I especially like the God's Word (GW) translation of this verse: "So place yourselves under God's authority." Authority is not a popular word today. But you can't experience the power of God's Word in battle and wield its authority unless you're also under its authority. Victory in our spiritual battles is directly related to submission to God's authority. This, in turn, builds resistance—our spiritual strength against the devil. Much like strengthening the body's resistance to disease. Spiritual battles are won before the moment of temptation. When I spend time in God's Word. When I'm faithful in prayer. And when I'm attentive to "temple upkeep," or the care of my body and mind, I am also strengthening my resistance. Physical resistance training involves pushing against a source of resistance, such as a weight, to increase one's strength. Spiritual resistance is the same. Spend time today meditating on the simple but powerful truth in James. Are you willing to place yourself under God's authority? Think of some steps you can take to build your spiritual resistance. And when the daily temptations come, remember to "exert force in opposition." God's promise is clear. If you do this, the devil will eventually flee from you. You may discover that the very attack that was designed to bring you down has actually made you stronger. Lord, I am challenged to be alert to the devil's schemes. Help me remember that victory is won before the moment of trial. I submit to your Word and commit to build my resistance on a daily basis. Above all, I trust you for the victory.

by Marilynn Chadwick Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another…who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11,12 NIV) Slander. It's an ugly word. Slander, or defamation of character, used to be considered a crime. Nowadays, it's more like a contact sport. Runaway slander fuels reality shows, tabloids, and especially social media. James gives us a hard-hitting warning about the dangers of slander. If we find gossip enticing, then we'd better pause. Old "camel knees," is sure to step on our toes in today's verses: "Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:11,12 NLT). The New Living Translation of the word "slander" is straightforward: "Don't speak evil against." Slander, katalaleo, comes from two Greek words: kata, "against," and laleo, or "speak." There's an innate hostility in the word "slander." So why aren't we more careful about the use of our tongue? Sometimes I catch myself speaking ill of someone under the guise of "processing a problem." Or maybe I share a morsel of gossip "for prayer." Ugh. Am I the only one who struggles with this sin? James speaks strongly against slander. Imagine how it makes the Lord feel to hear his children speaking evil about each other. Slander is one of the devil's favorite tools to divide the Body of Christ. Especially since his scheme catches most of us unaware. Lord, I need a wake-up call. Alert me to the dangers of slander. James won't let the subject rest. Neither do you. Make me uncomfortable with slander so that I won't speak or listen to harmful words. Help me realize that slander breaks your heart. Let it also break mine.

by Marilynn Chadwick You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. (James 4:2 NLT) "But Mommy, all I want is what I want when I want it," came the whine from three-year-old Molly. The story brings a chuckle every time her mother retells it. But aren't we all a bit like Molly? All we want is what we want when we want it. What's so bad about that? James challenges this inborn propensity toward selfishness. Our fights and quarrels have wants, or "desires," as their root, he says. The word here for desire is hedone from which we get "hedonism." The meaning is simple: "Pleasure, desire, enjoyment." Pleasure and enjoyment are not wrong. But when we "don't get what we want when we want it," what's our response? James probes our heart. Do we pout? Inwardly stomp our feet. Throw a temper tantrum. Harbor jealousy. Quarrel and fight? James gives us a heart check. What's at the root of these wrong responses? The first culprit he mentions may surprise you: A lack of prayer. More specifically, the lack of prayer with a surrendered heart. "You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure" (James 4:2,3). He calls out our motives, making us squirm a little more. Why do we want what we want in the first place? Is this something God would want to give us? If so, are we willing to pray—and then to wait for his timing? I sometimes refer to this delay as "wait training." It seems to be one of God's favorite methods for purifying our wants. The Lord desires for us to learn how to wait in faith, with a trusting and thankful heart. In our consumer-crazy culture, our "wants" can sometimes run wild. So, let's pause and reflect: Lord, all good gifts come from you. You delight to bless your children. But I confess that sometimes my wants run ahead of your perfect will. Slow me down, Lord. Let me examine my wants in the light of your Word. Remind me to ask you for what I want. Give me a willing heart to wait for your answer in your time. Above all, turn my eyes outward. While I wait, make me more sensitive to the wants of others… for truly, giving is your secret weapon against the "I want what I want when I want it" syndrome.

by Marilynn Chadwick But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving. (James 3:17 NIV) Do you want to be wise? King Solomon sure did. And God blessed him mightily. If we lack wisdom, we should ask God. It's a prayer he loves to answer. But James warns us about the dangers of what he calls "earthly wisdom." He contrasts it with heavenly wisdom in two short, power-packed sentences. Let's take a look these verses as translated in the Greek Interlinear New Testament: "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, free from prejudice and hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace" (James 3:17,18 MOUNCE). The first characteristic of heavenly wisdom is purity. It's also peaceable. Gentle. Merciful. Get the point? The wisdom that comes from above bears little resemblance to its worldly counterfeit. Earthly wisdom has a swagger about it. It's power-hungry. Commanding. In control. Eve found earthly wisdom irresistible. And tragically, sometimes, so do we. But make no mistake. Heavenly wisdom is anything but weak. It comes with its own kind of power. James reminds us this brand of wisdom produces humility. The Greek word praus, translated "humility," implies bridled power. Praus is the very same word Jesus used when he said: "I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29 NIV). It's the only instance in the New Testament where he described himself. Think about it. The all-powerful King of the Universe, wisdom personified, described himself as humble. In his presence, the sick were healed. The dead were raised. Demons trembled. Jesus was true wisdom from God in human form. That's the kind of wisdom I'm seeking today—the wisdom that comes from above. Lord, I ask for your kind of wisdom, not the worldly counterfeit. Make me attentive to your voice, sensitive to your gentle whisper. Lead me in the pathway of true wisdom. I pray this in the name of the humble Savior who is also our conquering King! Simply click on this Bible Gateway link for access to the Greek Interlinear New Testament.

by Marilynn Chadwick But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. (James 3:8 NIV) Poison! It's both a word and a warning. We label and lock up poisons, alert to their danger. We guard our children from poisonous substances. But do we guard them against poisonous speech? James gives a strong caution about the dangers of the tongue. He calls it "a restless evil, full of deadly poison." The main casualties of the tongue are our relationships. That's important, because our relationships with God and with each other are the only things we take with us into eternity. No wonder James issues this sober warning: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be" (James 3:9,10). Used wrongly, the tongue can divide families, churches, and even nations. The Greek word translated "devil" is diabalos which means "divider." Think about it. Divorce, division, disunity. All fall under the devil's job description. With the tongue, "we curse human beings," James writes. He's not talking about profanity here. The word for curse means to "wish evil or ruin on someone." It's related to a word which means "to speak against." Poisonous speech is often at the heart of family break-ups. We know from Malachi 2:16 that God hates divorce. Malachi calls this "breaking faith" with one's spouse. God also hates it when we break faith with one another. The solution? "Guard yourselves in your spirit..." (Malachi 2:15 ESV). Do whatever it takes to guard yourself in your spirit. Spend time daily in God's Word and prayer. Exercise self-control in your spiritual disciplines. Above all, guard yourself against the evil thoughts that lead to poisonous speech, gossip, and slander. Angry thoughts turn into angry words. You may need to take a time out and repent from your mistakes. It's worth your best effort to guard yourself and your family against poisonous speech. Your relationships will be better off for it! Lord, I confess that my mouth gets ahead of my mind sometimes. Words slip out before I think about the damage they might cause. And words, whispered in secret, can damage and divide relationships, even when I'm not aware of it. Wake me up, Lord! Make me alert to this hidden danger. Prod me to confess quickly when I stumble. Thank you for your words and for your loving warning through James.

by Marilynn Chadwick But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt... (James 1:6 NIV) Following Christ gets complicated when we try to live by the standards of this world: Work hard. Dream big. Solve life's problems with good sense and hard work. Measure your worth by your success. But James points us to another reality—a different power source. A God who cares. Who answers prayers. Who does for us that which we cannot do for ourselves: "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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do" (James 1:6-8). Ask. Believe. But be sure to resist doubt, cautions James. Easier said than done. Sometimes, living in two worlds can get very complicated. The Greek word translated "ask" also means "to pray." James knew a thing or two about prayer. His reputation as a man of fervent prayer earned him the nickname "camel knees." The oldest half-brother of Jesus, James was an eyewitness to the resurrection. He became the leader of the believers in Jerusalem. The book of James is thought to be written shortly before he was martyred. Who better to teach us to stand firm in our faith? To believe and not doubt. To resist the dangers of being double minded. Double-minded, or dipsychos, describes someone who has "two minds." To me, that's the very definition of complicated! Let's take a few minutes to reflect on these verses from James in the Amplified Classic version: "Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]" (James 1:6-8 AMPC). These verses challenge us to believe when we pray. They warn us about the dangers of doubt. Let's allow God's Word to encourage us to go deep. To search our heart for unbelief. To repent of doubt. When it comes to our faith, maybe it's time to stop being so complicated.

by Marilynn Chadwick In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. (James 1:11 NLT) Faded jeans. Faded furniture. Faded memories—mental images grow dim over time. Let's be honest. Life here on earth fades. Time tricks us, tempts us, promises what it can't deliver. So, we humans buy the lie and exhaust ourselves—chasing after that which fades. Riches. Achievements. Beauty. All are satisfying at first. But they don't last. Anyone who has watched a loved one age and die knows that the joys we experience on this earth are fleeting. Life fades. James beckons us to turn our eyes toward eternity, reminding us how "the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements" (James 1:11). For the next couple of weeks, our inspiration will come from the book of James. Each day, we'll focus on one simple word from this practical epistle written by the half-brother of Jesus. James is known for his constant reminders to be "doers of the word." Today, let's take another look at the complete passage from The Message. I'm stirred by this artful paraphrase, a nice companion to my Study Bible: "Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the 'prosperous life.' At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing" (James 1:9-11 MSG). God's Word always points us toward the eternal. James reminds us that our trials build perseverance. Trials also reveal what lasts—and what fades. Trials can loosen our grip on the goods of this life so that we anchor ourselves firmly in the eternal. Further reflection: "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" (James 1:12 NIV). That kind of crown is eternal! God wants us to freely enjoy this life. But it's wise to sit lightly on the world's fleeting pleasures. We are to build our foundation on the eternal life given to us only in Christ. A blessing which will never fade!

by David Chadwick This past week, we have been talking about overcoming people-pleasing. Let me remind you where we have been: People make lousy gods. Only God can meet the deepest longings of your heart. Don't worry about what other people think of you. It keeps you ensnared. Besides, they're most likely only thinking of themselves. No one has ever erected a statue to a critic. Choose to embrace constructive criticism, but throw away the junk that is meant to steal, kill and destroy. Today's reminder - play to an audience of One! Seek only to have God's approval, not humanity's applause. Man's empty praise will leave you having to be filled up day after day with more empty praise. It's a never-ending cycle and it's exhausting. Instead, go to your Daddy in heaven when you need to get filled back up. His tank is endless and what he can fill you up with is lasting and changes you forever. Paul even says that if he was seeking the praises of people as his life's goal, he would have never become a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). The gospel itself is an offensive message to people. It is a message that destroys self-sufficiency and self-idolatry. It's a message that can only be released by those who play to an audience of One and aren't looking to get the applause of those around them. You can't earn your salvation nor God's approval. It's a free gift from him who created and adores you. You work for God, not man (Colossians 3:23). He is your true boss. You must only desire his "well done," his positive performance evaluation for your life. When you seek God's opinion and his kingdom as your highest priority, the opinions of others don't greatly matter. And you become free to live and love, for HIS glory and his glory alone.

by David Chadwick How do we overcome the temptation to live as people-pleasers? First, remember that people make lousy gods. Secondly, don't worry about what people think about you. They are too busy thinking about themselves. And today - remember that no one has ever erected a statue to a critic. Statues have typically been erected to people who have carried significant roles in history. To heroes. To champions of good and moral living. Not to critics. Not to people who were constantly scorning and nitpicking those around them. Take Noah for example. God told him to build an ark. Everyone else thought he was crazy. They mocked and criticized him. But who ended up living through the worldwide flood? Noah. Not the critics. How can you be set free? Listen to constructive criticism. Especially when given by a friend or loved one who has your best at heart. Proverbs 15:31-33 says, "The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor." No one is perfect. Each one of us has failed at one point or another. We all have blind spots. We all can grow in numerous ways. What about the negative, acerbic criticism from people who have your harm as their desire? Those trying to bring you down and disrupt the calling that God has for you? Throw it aside! Don't listen. Give the pain back to God. Eventually, people become weary of negative people and will stop paying attention to them. Learn from the positive, caring feedback given by true friends. Throw the rest away from perpetual critics. And always remember. No one has ever erected a statue to a critic.

by David Chadwick The first step to overcoming people-pleasing is to realize that people make lousy gods. Here's the second tip. Don't worry about what other people think about you. It's a trap. My dad used to say this phrase to me all the time. Then he would add, "The truth is, they aren't thinking about you at all. They are too busy thinking about themselves." People-pleasing is an endless cycle that leads to nowhere. Trust me. I have had to learn this lesson the hard way. The more I try to keep everyone around me happy, the more unhappy I become. We were never designed to spend our energy making sure that everyone is okay. That is a burden that only God is designed to carry. He is God. We are not. And most of our problems come when we mix up those two concepts. Dear friend, when you worry what people think about you, your priority becomes having their approval instead of God's approval. And it's a never-ending cycle. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked..." Even our most benevolent thoughts and actions can have a hint of selfishness in them. We are all prone to choosing the options that in some way will exalt us. Decisions made from selfish ambition don't honor God. They seek to please people. My Dad's advice helps rid us of the idolatry of people-pleasing and keeps us from worrying about what people are thinking about us. So stop worrying. Those around you are not thinking about you at all. They are too busy thinking about themselves. Realize this and you will be free to be a true worshiper of the one true God.

by David Chadwick This week we are going to spend time looking at some of the crippling effects of people-pleasing. To put it bluntly, people-pleasing is idolatry. It puts someone else on the throne of your heart other than the Most High God. How do we overcome people-pleasing? Today's tip is to remember that people make lousy gods. Seeking people's approval in order for life to be enjoyed to the full is a dangerous enterprise. Why? Romans 3:23 tells us "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." No matter who they are, people look about for number one. For how something may benefit them. Every single one of us has come short of God's standard. If we put our trust in man, we are bound to be disappointed because God is the only one whose love and approval will truly satisfy us. No one is able to satiate the deepest desires of another human. A human's love can also be conditional, meaning you can quickly go from idolizing someone to demonizing them. If you allow another human to become an idol, you will inevitably end up changing yourself to please your idol. You might change the way you dress, eat, act, and talk. People are inherently selfish, often not caring what happens to others. Looking out for themselves. They will always end up disappointing you because no human can amount to what God can do. Perhaps that is why Jesus told us that he entrusted himself to no man (John 2:24). He knew what was in their hearts. As should we! We need to always remember that people make lousy gods. People will disappoint us. But God never will.