“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without fault and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like the wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, for he will fade away like the wildflower.  For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, a rich man fades away even while he goes about his business.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trials for, when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me’, for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor can he tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desires, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters, every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruit of all he created.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word of truth planted in you, which can save you.”

Wow!  We’re memorizing James 1 and we only have a few more verses to go.  Here’s our next one:

“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.”

Do what it says.

Listen and obey.

Let God transform us from the inside out as we read his word and then do what it says.

We deceive ourselves if we just check the box by sitting in church on Sunday but we don’t let God’s word soak in and change us.  We deceive ourselves if we faithfully read our chapter of the Bible everyday but we don’t respond.  If we don’t repent and turn away from the sin in our lives.  If we don’t let God transform our thinking and our attitudes.

Do what it says.

That’s easy to memorize – very challenging to do.

We need your help, Abba Father.