Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 28
Thursday


READ:
James 4:13-17
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Instead you ought to
say, if the Lord wills,
we shall live and do
this or that."
__James 4:15
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Over the years, it has been my privilege to lead several study trips to the Bible lands. In the months leading up to our group's departure, we would have a series of orientation meetings in preparation for our trip. Schedules, hotel accommodations, contact information__all could be changed at a moment's notice.

For that reason, our preparation times always stressed the need for flexibility. A willingness to go with the flow and adjust to whatever changes we might encounter was especially valuable. Life has an element of unpredictability for which flexibility is the best response.

James expressed a worldview of flexibility in chapter 4 of his epistle. While it is wise to plan for the furure, we must do so with the recognition that God's purposes might be different from ours. Instead of rigidly saying, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city" (v.1), James counseled us to flex to God's direction in our lives. he said, "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that'" (v.15).

The adventure of following Christ is one that rests in His perfect plans__and flexibility helps us to be prepared for wherever His purposes might take us. __Bill Crowder
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~He does not lead me year by year,~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Nor even day by day;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~But step by step my path unfolds;~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My Lord directs my way. __Ryberg~~~~~~~~~~
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A man's heart plans his way,
but the LORD directs his steps. __Proverbs 16:9

**************Today's Bible Reading__James 4:13-17**************

13 Come now, you who
say, "Today or tomorrow
we will go to such and
such a city, spend a year
there, buy and sell, and
make a profit"; 14 whereas
you do not know what will
happen tomorrow. For what
is your life? It is even a
vapor that appears for a
little time and then vanishes
away. 15 Instead you ought
to say, "If the Lord wills,
we shall live and do this
or that." 16 But now you
boast in your arrogance.
all such boasting is eveil.

17 Therefore, to him who
knows to do good and does
not do it, to him it is sin.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In this passage, James reminds self-confident and arrogant (and well-
to-do) believers who think they have the future in their hands not
only to be aware of the uncertainties (v.14a), the brevity (v.14b),
and the frailty of life (v.14c), but also to trust in God who controls
it. Drawing from Jesus' parable of the rich man in Luke 12:16-21,
James warns us that boasting about an unknown future is sin. Life is
so brief and fragile that we cannot afford to waste it. We must know
and do Gods will to make our lives count for Him (vv.15-17). __SKT