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JAMES

The challenge of faith

James , a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus the Messiah , to the twelve dispersed tribes : greeting .

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My dear family , when you find yourselves tumbling into various trials and tribulations , learn to look at it with total joy , 3 because you know that , when your faith is put to the test , what comes out is patience . 4 What ’ s more , you must let patience have its complete effect , so that you may be complete and whole , not falling short in anything .

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If any one of you falls short in wisdom , they should ask God for it , and it will be given them . God , after all , gives generously and ungrudgingly to all people . 6 But they should ask in faith , with no doubts . A person who doubts is like a wave of the sea which the wind blows and tosses about . 7 Someone like that should not suppose they will receive anything from the Lord , 8 since they are double- minded and unstable in everything they do .

The snares of the world and the gift of God

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Brothers and sisters who find themselves impoverished should celebrate the fact that they have risen to this height — 10 and those who are rich , that they are brought down low , since the rich will disappear like a wildflower . 11 You see , the rich will be like the grass : when the sun rises with its scorching heat , it withers the grass so that its flower droops and all its fine appearance comes to nothing . That ’ s what it will be like when the rich wither away in the midst of their busy lives .

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God ’ s blessing on the man who endures testing ! When he has passed the test , he will receive the crown of life , which God has promised to those who love him . 13 Nobody being tested should say , “ It ’ s God that ’ s testing me ,” for God cannot be tested by evil , and he himself tests nobody . 14 Rather , each person is tested when they are dragged off and enticed by their own desires . 15 Then desire , when it has conceived , gives birth to sin ; and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death .

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Don ’ t be deceived , my dear family . 17 Every good gift , every perfect gift , comes down from above , from the father of lights . His steady light doesn ’ t vary . It doesn ’ t change and produce shadows . 18 He became our father by the word of truth ; that was his firm decision , and the result is that we are a kind of first fruits of his creatures .

The word that goes to work

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So , my dear brothers and sisters , get this straight . Every person should be quick to hear , slow to speak , slow to anger . 20 Human anger , you see , doesn ’ t produce God ’ s justice ! 21 So put away everything that is sordid , all overflowing malice , and humbly receive the word which has been planted within you and which has the power to rescue your lives .

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But be people who do the word , not merely people who hear it and deceive themselves . 23 Someone who hears the word but doesn ’ t do it , you see , is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror .

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He notices himself , but then he goes away and quickly forgets what he looked like . 25 But the person who looks into the perfect law of freedom , and goes on with it , not being a hearer who forgets but a doer who does the deed — such a person is blessed in their doing .

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If anyone supposes that they are devout , and does not control their tongue , but rather deceives their heart — such a person ’ s devotion is futile . 27 As far as God the father is concerned , pure , unsullied devotion works like this : you should visit orphans and widows in their sorrow , and prevent the world leaving its dirty smudge on you .

No favorites !

My brothers and sisters , as you practice the faith of our Lord Jesus , the anointed King of glory , you must do so without favoritism . 2 What I mean is this : if someone comes into your assembly wearing gold rings , all dressed up , and a poor person comes in wearing shabby clothes , 3 you cast your eyes over the person wearing fine clothes and say , “ Please ! Have a seat up here !” but then you turn to the poor person and say , “ Stand there !” or , “ Get down there by my footstool !” 4 When you do this , are you not discriminating among yourselves ? Are you not turning into judges with evil thoughts ? 5 Listen , my dear brothers and sisters . Isn ’ t it the case that God has chosen the poor ( as the world sees it ) to be rich in faith , and to inherit the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him ? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man . After all , who are the rich ? The rich are the ones who lord it over you and drag you into court , aren ’ t they ?

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The rich are the ones who blaspheme the wonderful name which has been pronounced over you , aren ’ t they ?

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Supposing , however , you keep the royal law , as it is written , “ You shall love your neighbor as yourself ”; if you do this , you will do well .

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But if you show favoritism , you are committing sin , and you will be convicted by the law as a lawbreaker . 10 Anyone who keeps the whole law , you see , but fails in one point , has become guilty of all of it . 11 For the one who said , “ Do not commit adultery ,” also said , “ Do not murder .” So if you do not commit adultery , but do murder , you have become a lawbreaker . 12 Speak and act in such a way as people who are going to be

JaMeS 2.12

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