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James 1:1-27 (NIRV)

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¹ I, James, am writing this letter. I serve God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am sending this letter to you, the 12 tribes that are scattered among the nations. Greetings. ² My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. ³ Your faith will be put to the test. You know that when that happens it will produce in you the strength to continue. ⁴ The strength to keep going must be allowed to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need. ⁵ If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone. He doesn't find fault. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe. You must not doubt. People who doubt are like waves of the sea. The wind blows and tosses them around. ⁷ A man like that shouldn't expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ He can't make up his mind. He can never decide what to do. ⁹ A believer who finds himself in a low position in life should be proud that God has given him a high position. ¹⁰ But someone who is rich should take pride in his low position. That's because he will fade away like a wild flower. ¹¹ The sun rises. Its burning heat dries up the plants. Their blossoms fall. Their beauty is destroyed. In the same way, a rich person will fade away even as he goes about his business. ¹² Blessed is the man who keeps on going when times are hard. After he has come through them, he will receive a crown. The crown is life itself. God has promised it to those who love him. ¹³ When you are tempted, you shouldn't say, "God is tempting me." God can't be tempted by evil. And he doesn't tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But your own evil longings tempt you. They lead you on and drag you away. ¹⁵ When they are allowed to grow, they give birth to sin. When sin has grown up, it gives birth to death. ¹⁶ My dear brothers and sisters, don't let anyone fool you. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from God. It comes down from the Father. He created the heavenly lights. He does not change like shadows that move. ¹⁸ God chose to give us new birth through the message of truth. He wanted us to be the first and best of everything he created. ¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get angry. ²⁰ A man's anger doesn't produce the kind of life God wants. ²¹ So get rid of everything that is dirty and sinful. Get rid of the evil that is all around us. Don't be too proud to accept the word that is planted in you. It can save you. ²² Don't just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says. ²³ Suppose you listen to the word but don't do what it says. Then you are like a man who looks at his face in a mirror. ²⁴ After looking at himself, he leaves. Right away he forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But suppose you take a good look at the perfect law that gives freedom. You keep looking at it. You don't forget what you've heard, but you do what the law says. Then you will be blessed in what you do. ²⁶ Suppose you think your beliefs are right because of how you live. But you don't control what you say. Then you are fooling yourselves. Your beliefs are not worth anything at all. ²⁷ Here are the kinds of beliefs that God our Father accepts as pure and without fault. When widows and children who have no parents are in trouble, take care of them. And keep yourselves from being polluted by the world.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 2) Suffering / Hardship - Consider it a joy to face trials
(v. 2) Joy / Rejoicing - Consider it a joy to face trials
(v. 3) Testing / Tests - Testing used to develop perseverance
(v. 3) Patience / Perseverance / Standing Firm - Perseverance comes from the testing of your faith
(v. 4) Patience / Perseverance / Standing Firm - Perseverance comes from the testing of your faith
(v. 4) Growth / Maturity - Perseverance brings maturity
(v. 5) Wisdom / Understanding / Stupidity - Pray for wisdom
(v. 5) Prayer - Pray for wisdom
(v. 6) Prayer - Ask and do not doubt
(v. 12) Patience / Perseverance / Standing Firm - Will receive the crown of life
(v. 13) Temptation - God can not be tempted
(v. 13) Temptation - God does not tempt anyone
(v. 14) Temptation - Temptation comes from our evil desires
(v. 17) Consistency - God does not change - like shifting shadows
(v. 19) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Be slow to speak
(v. 19) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Be quick to listen
(v. 19) Anger / Fits of Rage / Bitterness - Be slow to become angry
(v. 20) Anger / Fits of Rage / Bitterness - Be slow to become angry
(v. 22) Obedience - Do what the word says
(v. 23) Obedience - Do what the word says
(v. 24) Obedience - Do what the word says
(v. 25) Obedience - Do what the word says
(v. 26) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Does not keep a tight rein on tongue - religion is worthless
(v. 27) Giving / Contribution - Pure and faultless - look after widows/orphans

This passage relates to the following question(s):
(v. 5) Does God give freely? Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault
(v. 13) Does God tempt men or not? God does not tempt anyone
(v. 17) Does God change or not? Father does not change like shifting shadows

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 1) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 2) Mind Change - Challenge (2011-11-04)
(v. 2) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 2) Purpose Driven Life - Seeing Life from God's View (2008-05-26)
(v. 2) NT Commands (part VI) (2011-03-13)
(v. 2) Power of Spiritual Thinking - The Easy Way Out (2008-05-05)
(v. 2) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 2) Heart of Maturity (Methods of Maturing) (2010-04-29)
(v. 2) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 3) NT Commands (part VI) (2011-03-13)
(v. 3) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 3) Mind Change - Challenge (2011-11-04)
(v. 3) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 3) Power of Spiritual Thinking - The Easy Way Out (2008-05-05)
(v. 3) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 3) Heart of Maturity (Methods of Maturing) (2010-04-29)
(v. 3) Purpose Driven Life - Seeing Life from God's View (2008-05-26)
(v. 4) Purpose Driven Life - Dont Get In A Hurry (2008-06-23)
(v. 4) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 4) Heart of Maturity (Methods of Maturing) (2010-04-29)
(v. 4) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 4) Power of Spiritual Thinking - The Easy Way Out (2008-05-05)
(v. 4) 30 Days at the Cross - Problems or Possibilities (2008-08-08)
(v. 4) Mind Change - Challenge (2011-11-04)
(v. 5) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 5) Trusting God - Samuel (2010-11-29)
(v. 5) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 6) Trusting God - Samuel (2010-11-29)
(v. 6) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 6) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 7) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 7) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 7) Trusting God - Samuel (2010-11-29)
(v. 8) Trusting God - Samuel (2010-11-29)
(v. 8) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 8) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 1) (2010-03-27)
(v. 9) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 2) (2010-03-28)
(v. 10) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 2) (2010-03-28)
(v. 11) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 2) (2010-03-28)
(v. 12) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 12) Purpose Driven Life - Growth Through Temptation (2008-06-19)
(v. 12) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 2) (2010-03-28)
(v. 13) Promises of God - Not tempted Beyond What You Can Bear (2009-03-14)
(v. 13) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 13) Jesus - The Healer (part 2) (2010-06-17)
(v. 14) Promises of God - Not tempted Beyond What You Can Bear (2009-03-14)
(v. 14) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 14) Jesus - The Healer (part 2) (2010-06-17)
(v. 14) Purpose Driven Life - Growth Through Temptation (2008-06-19)
(v. 15) Jesus - The Healer (part 2) (2010-06-17)
(v. 15) Day 9 - Trials of Many Kinds (2011-12-12)
(v. 15) Promises of God - Not tempted Beyond What You Can Bear (2009-03-14)
(v. 15) Purpose Driven Life - Growth Through Temptation (2008-06-19)
(v. 16) God does not change (part 1) (2010-06-23)
(v. 16) Purpose Driven Life - Growth Through Temptation (2008-06-19)
(v. 16) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 3) (2010-03-29)
(v. 17) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 3) (2010-03-29)
(v. 17) God Is (part I) (2011-03-20)
(v. 17) Man of Prayer - YHWH-jireh (2008-10-10)
(v. 17) Falling in Love with God - Intro (2008-03-31)
(v. 17) Power of Gratitude - Day-Tight Compartments (2008-03-07)
(v. 17) God does not change (part 1) (2010-06-23)
(v. 18) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 3) (2010-03-29)
(v. 18) God does not change (part 1) (2010-06-23)
(v. 19) NT Commands (part III) (2011-03-10)
(v. 19) One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 4) (2010-02-24)
(v. 19) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 3) (2010-03-29)
(v. 20) One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 4) (2010-02-24)
(v. 20) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 3) (2010-03-29)
(v. 20) NT Commands (part III) (2011-03-10)
(v. 20) One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 4) (2010-02-24)
(v. 21) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 3) (2010-03-29)
(v. 22) NT Commands (part IV) (2011-03-11)
(v. 22) Followup - Balanced Attitude and Application (2011-01-18)
(v. 22) Followup - Bible Study Application (2011-01-11)
(v. 22) Kingdom First - Personal Responsibility (part 2) (2010-01-28)
(v. 22) First the Kingdom - Expectations (2010-02-12)
(v. 23) Kingdom First - Personal Responsibility (part 2) (2010-01-28)
(v. 23) Genesis 3 - The Fall of Man (2011-10-03)
(v. 23) Teach Us To Pray - Changes in Character (2008-09-15)
(v. 23) Power of Gratitude - Free at Last (2008-02-27)
(v. 23) First the Kingdom - Expectations (2010-02-12)
(v. 24) First the Kingdom - Expectations (2010-02-12)
(v. 24) Teach Us To Pray - Changes in Character (2008-09-15)
(v. 24) Kingdom First - Personal Responsibility (part 2) (2010-01-28)
(v. 24) Genesis 3 - The Fall of Man (2011-10-03)
(v. 24) Power of Gratitude - Free at Last (2008-02-27)
(v. 25) Power of Gratitude - Free at Last (2008-02-27)
(v. 25) First the Kingdom - Expectations (2010-02-12)
(v. 25) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 4) (2010-03-30)
(v. 25) Teach Us To Pray - Changes in Character (2008-09-15)
(v. 25) Kingdom First - Personal Responsibility (part 2) (2010-01-28)
(v. 26) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 4) (2010-03-30)
(v. 26) Kingdom First - Words are Big (2010-01-14)
(v. 27) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 4) (2010-03-30)
(v. 27) Contagious Christian - Pull of Compassion (2010-10-10)
(v. 27) Christian Responsibilities (2010-10-24)
(v. 27) Followup - The New Testament Church (part II) (2011-01-25)
(v. 27) Life to the Full - Crown not Frown (part 5) (2010-03-31)
(v. 27) Day 13 - Saved to Serve (2011-12-16)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 5) Devotional: Wisdom (2008-12-12)
(v. 6) Devotional: Prayer and Fasting (2008-12-12)
(v. 7) Devotional: Prayer and Fasting (2008-12-12)
(v. 8) Devotional: Prayer and Fasting (2008-12-12)
(v. 12) Devotional: Tenacity (2008-12-12)
(v. 22) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 23) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 24) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)
(v. 25) Devotional: Bible Study (2008-12-12)

Definition(s):
Jesus (Jeez-us): savior; deliverer
So (Soh):