The halfbaked Bard

Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James:1:21. Filthy around you is so huge and encroaching that you can protect yourself only by filling yourself with the word within. It has been planted. It can save you. Now nurture it. Fill your whole being. So that it can continue to save you from all the filth, that is around you. Otherwise; no determination or self control is going to purify you. You are sure to fall. Only the Word will purify. Because it is the Son Himself. God Himself. It is alive and active, sharper than the double edged sword, penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Heb:4:12 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Heb:4:13. It exposes everything that is sinful. So if you want to be purged and make yourself pure, fill your life with the Word.  Spen...

James:1:20 For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Anger is in no way beneficial. It neither brings the righteousness that God desires in your life. For anger almost always results in sin. And it comes as a result of sin. Anger leads to bitterness. Anger leads to fits of rage. Anger leads to lack of love. - results in sin. Anger comes out of selfishness. Anger comes out of bitterness. Anger comes out of holding on to your selfish point. Anger comes out of not letting go. - comes as a result of sin. Nor does it bring the righteousness that God desires in their life. The one on whom it is angered upon - he/ she will discipline oneself may be out of fear. But not long lasting. Not out of clear insight or understanding. Not out of love. Then there is the righteous anger which Jesus had in the temple. A genuine outpouring of judgement on seeing what is wrong. But will you be able to draw the line? Therefore be slow to anger. Refrain. There i...

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father. James:1:17 How do we know that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father? Because He is good and perfect. Only He is good. And He is a loving Father. So He will give all things that is good to His children.  All good things can come from Him alone, because He alone is good. Whereas the enemy, the counterpart ( eventhough he is no equal to the good God, nor is he the antonym), his intention is always bad. He has come to steal and kill and destroy. Outwardly what he offers might look alluringly good and beautiful. But his intention is bad and it is to destroy. But God works everything for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The best ( which is the superlative of good) gift that came from above is salvation. The best is God Himself. When we were lost, when we were without hope, while we were still not seeking Him and faraway from Him, Christ died. When we least ...

When tempted no one should say God is tempting me. James:1:13. Temptation comes not from God. But by your own evil desires. Trials and testing is different, which are sent by God. Infact He being the Sovereign ruler, everything is allowed by God. But He is not the source of any temptations. Temptation has an evil or sinful outcome. Trials and testing does not have. It involves a little bit of suffering in contrast. Not an overt sin. The admonition here is to be careful of your evil desires. Not to find out the source. Desires become evil when the direct outcome is sin. Sin with rebellion written all over it. Sin which has "I" written all over it. But when you have fallen. Seek and come back. Return and repent. Beware. Image credit: https://www.asianage.com/life/more-features/230317/overcome-temptation.html

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. James:1:12 The second benefit of perseverance in trial is that you shall be given the crown of life which has been promised to those who love Him. Therefore we conclude that perseverance is a sign of loving Him. Only if I love Him will I cling on to Him, in hard times. It is a cycle. Perseverance is a sign of love. Perseverance will also increase your love. And love is not something you manufacture. You need the grace of God to love Him and to understand His love. All you can do is ask helplessly. Ask grace to persevere. Ask grace to understand this love. Seek. Ask forgiveness for walking away from this love and show yearnest desire to come back. Image credit: https://butterflyliving.org/how-to-persevere/

Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials ofany kind. James:1:2 How can you be joyous when you face trials? You know for sure that God is in control. You know that God will work on your favour because you are His beloved. All things God works for your good. You know that God will bring about a solution. These are good reasons to be joyous. But apostle James tells even more better reasons. Persevere during testing times. Cling on to God during these difficult times. Because perseverance when it finishes it's working, you will become mature and complete. Your character will change because of that perseverance. You will become more Christ like. Just as He desired you to be. Complete. Just like silver is purged of gross when it goes through fire. It is difficult for the silver. Painful. Nothing complete happens for the silver which jumps out of the refinery. It remains unpurged. Therefore cling on. Hold on. Hold fast to the One who allows you to go through this. He will...