Read James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. Reflect Has bitter jealousy or envy ever tempted you to sin in other ways as well? It starts right away when we are very young. Our parents set us down on the floor to

Read 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Reflect What tempts you to sin? What steps are you taking or could you take to limit or eliminate this temptation from your life? In today’s passage, the apostle Peter gave us a vivid picture of the “passions of the flesh”. He said that they “wage war against your soul”. The notes of my MacArthur Study Bible read: “In order to have an imp

Read Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Reflect What worries or fears are you wrestling with right now? How are you managing those emotions? Maybe you can relate: While wrestling with a situation, in you head, you know that God is worthy of your complete trust. But your feelings are all over the place. One moment you’re at peace with whatever happens because God is

Read Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Reflect What is your attitude concerning work? Do you view it as a blessing or a necessary evil? Did you ever look at the need to work and decide that it’s a consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience? That, if they hadn’t sinned, we wouldn’t need to work today. It’s a common enough thought that even kids ask about it in Sunday school. This is probably rooted in thoughts of G

Read Psalm 16:1-2, 5-6, 9-11 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance…Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me th

Read 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Reflect Prayerfully consider how much you’ve grown spiritually in the past year. What did you consume that contributed to your spiritual growth the most? What do you think hindered your spiritual growth the most? There has been a lot of research about the benefits of a mother’s milk. According to studies a mother’s

Read James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Reflect How confident are you when it comes to talking about your faith? What do you think you could do to increase your confidence? When I talk with other people about evangelism and outreach, I often hear the same thing. People say things like, “I just don’t know what to say!” People express feeling unprepared and ill-equipped. Maybe you can r

Read Acts 17:1-4 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ. And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great

Read John 4:35-38 “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Re