1:27b to visit the widows and orphans in their affliction and to keep your self unstained from the world.............2:1.Do not combine our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality (prejudice).
Chapter two talks about showing your faith through you works (good deeds) ending with faith without works is dead. Then chapter three is all about controlling the tongue which is a fire, an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. It also compares wisdom from above to earthly wisdom.
The last verse of chapter 3 is verse 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Wow, look at the contrast in Chapter 4:1 What causes war and fighting among you? Look at the rest of the chapter where this and much more is discussed.
Chapter four ends with verse 17 " Whoever know what is right to do and fails to do it, for him, it is sin." I really struggle with the first six chapters of chapter five. James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. But then you get to 11b and read.".that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful." Then you go to the last two verses James 5:19 and 20....My brethren, if any among you stray from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
The transition from chapter to chapter is beautiful and builds on the chapter that comes before. You can not take one verse and receive the message. You need to put them all together to glean what you need from what you read. Then you need to apply it to your life and with the help of the Holy Spirit you can know the Will of God for your life. Boy, I have a long way to go. I hope that I live long enough to get my act together.
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