Chew on this during your week – James 1:19-21

 Good morning readers. First I want to thank those of you who participated in the discussion last week regarding infant salvation and baptism. I believe it is a sensitive topic, but one that scripture is clear on. It is certainly one of those issues that will test the faith of anyone who happens to lose a child.

Second, I want to let you know that I am changing the format of the weekly memory verses. Or rather, I am changing the expectations. I realize that some, if not all, of us are unable to memorize the verse(s) each week. This can become discouraging and may end up turning you away from simple meditation on a selected passage. So, for those of you who are nodding your head at this, myself included, you can expect to see a change in the expectations regarding these weekly passages. I want you to meditate first, and if memorization comes out of that time then great, but that is not our goal. 

The goal is not to be able to say a verse on command; the goal is to read a passage over and over again so that through doing so you begin to truly ponder the words, meaning, and application. How does this sound to you?

To kick off this new view, I want you to chew on the passage from James below (my wife and I are reading through the book of James, so expect a lot from this book here):

James 1:19-21 (ESV)

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person  be quick to hear,  slow to speak,  slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore  put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with  meekness the implanted word,  which is able to save your souls. 

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A Verse to kick off 2012: James 1:22

First, an apology is due for missing last week’s verse as you can imagine, time is not something that seems to be available around this time of year with Christmas and New Year’s consuming a lot of it. I simply never got around to choosing a verse for last week and am very sorry about that. I do hope that despite my absence you stayed in the Word!

This week I want us to look at a verse that is short, simple, sweet, and extremely challenging:

James 1:22 (ESV)

But be  doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Notice the first word. That should cause you to do something: study the context. Meditate and memorize, but understand this verse in the context. Seek to understand how the original audience would have understood these words, then work to uncover what the text means (not what it means to you).

Have a great week! And be sure to stop by with your thoughts 🙂

A Lamp to My Feet Reminder – Psalms 119:1-4

This week we were meditating on and memorizing Psalm 119:1-4. If you were able to participate in the challenge this week, go ahead a leave a comment saying so and and be sure to include your thoughts on the passage.

Maybe you forgot about the challenge this week, or were not able to get it memorized? Take a look at the passage below for a few minutes and share your thoughts with us. It is never too late to slow down and reflect on a passage from God’s Word.

Psalm 119:1-4 (ESV)

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.

Also, there are a few buttons below this post that make it easy for you to share this verse with friends and family. I invite you to do so!

I look forward to reading your thoughts on the passage this week 🙂

A Lamp to My Feet – Psalm 119:1-4

We are in Psalms again this week. 118 chapters after last week’s passage the Psalmist, David, is again speaking to the glory and wonder of the Word of God, His Law. He finds life in God’s Word and cannot help but praise God for what he, and we, have in it.

Last week our verse focused on the mediation that we must do in God’s Word. It is to become something that we seek day and night, something that will make us “like a tree planted by streams of water” (think about that imagery). This week the Psalmist focuses on doing: “walk…keep…seek him…do no wrong…walk in his ways.”

I encourage you to keep Psalm 1:1-3 in mind this week as you study this passage. “On his law he meditates day and night.”

Psalm 119:1-4 (ESV)

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the Lord!

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong,

but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your precepts

to be kept diligently.

Remember to stop by this post again later this week with any thoughts that you might have about this passage. I hope that you approach this “challenge” eagerly and allow these verses to become a part of you.

Like a Tree Planted by Streams of Water – Psalm 1:1-3

Every time I read these verses I feel refreshed and challenged. I also thought the meditation on the law taking place in verse two and the imagery of what that can do to someone in verse three would be an appropriate way to kick this off.

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV)

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Don’t forget to comment on this post during the week with your thoughts or if you need tips on memorizing and meditating on verses. Then come back on Sunday to let everyone know how you did with the verse and your final thoughts.