Beyond the Weekend: Make It Real
The Book of James encourages readers to live consistently with what they have learned from Christ.
This New Testament book is only five chapters long, yet full of wisdom surrounding faith. Pastor Aaron memorized it first while still a well-driller before entering ministry.
James gets real about faith amidst a lot of tough topics like trials, religion, values, works, words, heart, wealth, and endurance. We work through one subject a week in MAKE IT REAL. Don’t miss this chance to get real about your faith too.
Week 1: James 1:1-18
Week 2: James 1:19-27
Week 3: James 2:1-13
Week 4: James 2:14-26
Week 5: James 3:1-12
Week 6: James 4:1-10
Week 7: James 4:13-5:6
Week 8: James 5:7-20
The World
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4
Read: James 4:4-6 Listen: James 4
TODAY'S MESSAGE
Why does James call his readers adulterous people? When God called Israel to be his chosen people, their relationship was presented in marriage language. When the Israelites repeatedly fell into worshipping the gods of other nations, he would use adultery language. It was like they were cheating on him, their husband. In the New Testament, a similar theme emerges as the church is called the Bride of Christ. Here, James is telling his readers they are cheating on God when they live by the beliefs of the world that are opposed to God’s way of living. It’s an intimate betrayal.
God jealously longs for our faithfulness to him in the same way a spouse jealously longs for the faithfulness of their spouse. He wants our heart, our love. He doesn’t want us to adopt the world’s belief systems. Like the pain and destruction that comes with unfaithfulness in a marriage relationship, unfaithfulness to God brings pain and destruction to our lives. His ways bring life, and God desires for us to experience life and have it to the full (John 10:10).
TODAY: Worship God for his love and jealous pursuit of you today. Listen to the song, “Through it All” and pay attention to the theme of his pursuit of you throughout your life.
JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Read Genesis 33-34. Highlight anything that points to Jesus.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
