Exploring Scripture

Today's thought: Francis of Assisi overcame his fear and embraced the leper, after hearing the Lord say to him, “What you used to abhor shall be to you joy and sweetness...”59 At that point, he had mastered himself.

Today's thought: if we find within us desires to fill our churches with the right kind of people, that do not put others off from joining us, are we not building beautiful but empty shells?

Today's thought: the cross of Christ is the great leveller. For some it humbles us; for others it lifts us up.

Today's thought: my estimation and my feelings towards the poor and dis- advantaged of this world is a pretty accurate reading of the true levels of my actual estimation and feelings towards Christ.

Today's thought: with the poor, the treasure is often found in their hearts, not on their clothes. And if we engage sincerely with them, we will certainly find it.

Today's thought: be very clean on the inside, and allow yourself to get dirty on the outside. Let it never be the other way around.

Today's thought: my attitude toward the Word of God is crucial. To hear the voice of God in the Scriptures, I need to approach them quietly, slowly, reverently and with a child-like heart.

Today's thought: a garden, left to itself, will naturally become inundated with weeds. We need to welcome the activity of the divine gardener as he sows his seed into us. We then need to work with him in cultivating these seeds into profound fruitfulness.

Today's thought: this gift that God has given us is far greater than us. The divine life that stirs within us is the same life that with four words brought the whole of the universe into being.

Today's thought: If it were down to our grip on God, we would quickly fall. Thankfully, his grip on us is stronger. (Psalm 37:23-24/Psalm 138:8)

Today's thought: under God’s hands, the ‘bent out of shape’ can be reshaped, and can learn to walk straight.

Today's thought: Either my thoughts will capture me, or I will capture my thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)

Today's thought: “Within me is both a dove and a wolf,” said the young novice monk to the desert Father. “I am afraid the wolf will win. What shall I do?” The wise Father replied, “Feed the one and starve the other.”

Today's thought: Falling into temptation is never an isolated act. It has a background in our hearts...

Today's thought: Trials and temptations are there, not to strip our faith, but to strengthen our faith.

Today's thought: Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt.6:21) The Preacher’s Commentary says, “Gathering earthly treasures is not a great enough cause by which to structure a philosophy of life.”

Today's thought: Our attitude towards money and possessions is a good litmus test of whether or not, in God’s sight, we are rich or poor. We either hold them tightly or lightly.

Today's thought: Jesus taught that our attitude to the least of his brethren actually reflects our attitude towards the Lord himself. (Matt.25:40)

Today's thought: Insecurity in any relationship is never constructive; it is always damaging. How secure are you in God’s love? Do you know in your heart that he loves you?

Today's thought: The landscape of life is littered with the wreckage of projects and schemes that have been attempted for God with little or no reference to him. Better to get close to him, to listen to him, and obey his promptings, than run at the world with a clutch of good ideas.

Today's thought: Living in a culture that finds difficulty with any form of long-term commitment, where will I be in my walk with Jesus in about twenty years from now?

Today's thought: Our attitudes and our responses to trials will tell the true story about the levels and the maturity of our faith. We cannot choose the circumstances, but we can choose our responses.

Today's thought: The Lord knows where he has placed us, and for what reason. His word can reach us wherever we are, and can nourish us in our faith.

Today's thought: The Bible teaches that “we have this treasure in jars of clay” (2 Cor 4:7). You, and your brothers and sisters in Christ, are all “jars of clay”, and yet within, there is the life of Christ. Don’t be caught up in seeing them in the natural. Can you see the life of Jesus within them?

The faith that James wrote about was a faith that is not merely a cerebral affair, but one that is to be believed, experienced and worked out in the nitty- gritty of life at ground-level. This series will take your time over one or two verses at a time, hopefully allowing them to sink deeply into your heart and spirit. May you pick up the heart of James as you spend time with him.