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We are taking a break for the summer until futher notice.

Week 3 - Day 3

Read James 1:19-21.

1. What is the condition, according to James 1:21, for God’s word to truly come into our hearts? Why would failure to do this hinder God’s word working in your life?

Vaughn explains the phrase “put away” (NET), “get rid of” (NIV), “putting aside” (NASB) or “lay aside” (NKJV): “The tense of the Greek word suggests a single and decisive act. The figure is that of stripping off and casting aside a dirty garment.”

2. Other authors use this picture of taking off something that is inconsistent with our faith. Read these verses and compare them with James 1:21:
a. Col. 3:8
b. Heb. 12:1
c. I Peter 2:1

3. What is the result of receiving, accepting, or welcoming God’s message (1:21)?

This is not the salvation that some of us normally think of—the one-time turning to Jesus in faith to forgive us and bring us into a relationship with God. There are actually three tenses of salvation: past tense, meaning that at that one time we were saved from the penalty of our sins; present tense, meaning that we are being saved from the power of sin as we depend upon God day by day; and future tense, meaning that we will someday be saved from the presence of sin when we live in the very presence of God. James 1:21 seems to be dealing with the present sense of that salvation. As we welcome that word in our hearts, we are becoming more and more like Jesus. God is using His word to work in us.

Stronger Jeans (optional): Study Psalm 119, which speaks of the work of the word in our lives. Which verses speak to you today?

4. Sharing Question: Relate about a time in your life when your heart was hardened to what God was saying in His word. You did not welcome or accept it. What happened to change that? How did God work to soften your heart?

5. Responding to God question: I like the way that the NET Bible puts it in 1:21—“humbly welcome the message implanted within you.” Honestly consider these questions before God: Do you accept God’s word that way? As you come to your daily study time, do you humbly welcome what God is saying to you? Or do you dread it because you feel guilty because you don’t want to hear it? Write down your thoughts.

4 comments:

Christina Ketchum said...

In Psalm 119, verse 11 really spoke to me, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

It totally makes sense to memorize scripture because sin can sneak up at anytime and the best defense is to be prepared with scripture that battles the specific sin. I have tried in the past to start memorizing scripture but my efforts NEVER last more than 2 days. I am going to start trying again RIGHT NOW!!! I will start with Psalm 119:11.

Anonymous said...

There has been times when I have hardened by heart but then God just allows a tough situation where I just had to humble myself and seek forgiveness.

Sohl Gal said...

When it's time for my quiet time, I often feel that He's going to see the "real" me, the one with wounds and scars and fear, and then He'll turn away. I know it's not true, I know it's a message that someone else wants me to get. But I am amazed that when I come to learn, with my heart and mind ready, He always has something to teach me. It never ceases to surprise me how things that I feel led to talk about are closely followed by or closely follow the scriptures He places around me. He totally prepped me for this when I went to a conference about a year ago, and I didn't beleive it then. I'm so seeing it now.

DA Wagners said...

Janel, isn't it cool how God preps of for stuff?! I've seen so many times in my life where God was showing me something or telling me something that I didn't want to hear or do. But if we are willing, He will slowly change our hearts. I've learned to just tell God, "I don't want to do that and I don't agree now, but I'll put it on the backburner and allow you to change my mind about it!" And He does! I think it's awesome that He gives us a glimpse of what's to come but doesn't force it on us until we are ready.