The halfbaked Bard

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James:3:5 A small spark is enough To destroy a lifetime of toil. But trees are older than men And a forest lasts for generations A small spark destroys it all Years of good work, years of hard work All lost in a single moment of foolishness Destroyed. Devastated. Creating trauma. The tongue is a fire too, says the Word. Years of good name you have created. The good words you spoke to a losing soul, The good deeds you did, which looked like Cold water poured over burning coals. All destroyed in a few set of words said in anger Even in secret or in public For God sees it all. If anyone is never at fault in what he says He is a perfect man. James:3:2 He is able to keep his whole body in check Can both fresh and salty water Flow from the same spring? Asks He. Control it. Bridle it.  Do not let it go Lashing around and destroying those tender hearts. Do not let years of hard work go waste. In fits of rage. In disc...

As the body without Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James :2:26 Faith alone will not justify you. Deeds that come out of your faith - like Abraham, like Rahab. Your good deeds should reflect that you have faith in a good God. By grace through faith alone you are saved. Yes faith is the core of your salvation. But unless it reflects on to your deeds, what faith is it? Not that deeds will save you. Not that deeds also is needed to save you. But deeds should reflect the faith you have. That is why, it is said, faith without deeds is useless. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/hands-with-heart-donation-volunteering-charity-good-deeds-grey-icon-gm1310370557-399798981

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