Heb 13:
Lest we get the idea that we can run the race successfully alone – the writer closes his letter by reminding us to follow our spiritual leaders.
If we do, we will love the brothers and sisters, we'll help the strangers and prisoners, live above lust, and we'll deal with covetousness and not be lead away by false doctrines.
'Remember them' (v. 7 & 8)
This may refer to leaders now dead, but their ministry goes on.
Remember what they taught you, how they lived, and what they lived for.
Church leaders and ministry leaders may come and go, but Jesus is the same.
And they, the leaders must fix our eyes on Him.
Obey them.
If they are faithful to care for your soul and teach you the Word - well, you have the responsibility to obey.
A spiritual leader is not a dictator who drives you from behind.
No, he's a shepherd who goes before and leads the way.
So pray for them.
When you come to the throne of grace, ask God to make His shepherds faithful and fruitful.
Pray that the great Shepherd will use them to make you complete in every good work.
And greet them.
You should know your leaders personally and be on good terms with them.
Let nothing come between you that could create problems in the fellowship.
James 1
The man who wrote this letter was the half-brother of our Lord and the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
He was a devout Jew and wrote to Jewish believers scattered throughout the Roman world.
They were troubled by trials and testings as well as by problems in their assemblies.
And James wrote to help them mature in their faith.
The epistle of James is a practical book that discusses living the faith.
It contains echoes of the Sermon on the Mount and the book of Proverbs, both of which are very practical.
If we truly practice our faith, it will be seen in how we face trials, in the way we treat people, in what we say and how we deal with sins in our lives and it will be seen in our prayer life.
When you trust God, trials will work for you and not against you.
But be sure that your heart is wholly yielded to Him.
If your heart and mind are divided, trials will tear you apart.
The goodness of God.
When you realise how good God is to you, you'll have no interest in the temptations the Enemy puts before you.
When you're tempted, count your blessings, and soon you'll have strength to say no!
The Word of God.
It is a mirror that helps us examine ourselves and cleanse our lives.
We must DO the Word of God, not just read it or study it.
The blessing is in the doing.
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