February 2011
Don’t open your mouth when:
1. In the heat of anger- Proverbs 14:17, [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
2. When you don’t have all the facts- Proverbs 18:13, He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
3. When you haven’t verified the story- Deuteronomy 17:6, At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; [but] at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
James 5:13-17 – Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
This entry is to highlight a highly used verse concerning prayer. James 5:16 will be addressed, but verses 13-17 were provided for context.
Many of us have heard this verse quoted many different ways. Somehow after listening to it or reading it, many people will seek to pray longer and harder without any thought of their lifestyle before God. It’s as if they read the verse like this:
Fervent prayer availeth much.
Luke 6:35 – But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
In Luke 6:30-36, Jesus is addressing the manner we are to give and love others. Jesus says in Luke 6:35 that he [God] is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.
We live in a world that ‘tells’ us to hate the unthankful and evil. We are led to believe that they are not worthy of our help, favors, or second chances; we should turn our backs on them without the slightest care or concern – because they would do the same to us; we should get revenge on those that harm us and want to take advantage of us; and we must prove that they messed with the ‘wrong’ person. However, God is kind to them.
It is God’s will that no one is lost (Luke 19:10; John 3:17; 2 Peter 3:9). Yet, in their current state, the unthankful may not appreciate anything God (or anyone else) does for them and the evil will only care for themselves. But God is kind to them…and we should be as well.
Romans 12:17-21 – Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine- I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink- for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
You were once an enemy of God (Colossians 1:21-29)…and He showed you mercy. Therefore, be merciful as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36).
Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/DouglasShelton
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