JAMESCHAPTER 1

WHO ARE WEWHO GOD IS

2Count it all joy, my brothers,[b]when you meet trialsof various kinds,[We will face trials]

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may beperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.[We are a Work-in-progress]

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,10andthe rich in his humiliation, becauselike a flower of the grass[c]he will pass away[We are to be different from the world, upside down]

13Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.[We blame]

14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.[We have a deceitful heart containing wicked evil desires]

18Of his own will hebrought us forth by the word of truth,that we should be a kind offirstfruits of his creatures.[We are the firstfruits of his creatures- this means are to be dedicated to Him. We belong to Him.]

19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every personbe quick to hear,slow to speak,slow to anger;20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.[We have a tendency to speak before listening, and to anger quickly]

21Thereforeput away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive withmeekness the implanted word,which is able to save your souls.[We are filthy and rampantly wicked, only Gods Word can convert us]

22But bedoers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.26If anyone thinks he is religiousand does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person'sreligion is worthless.[We deceive ourselves]

23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.25But the one who looks into the perfect law,the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,he will be blessed in his doing.[We are forgetful and (related to quick to speak) would talk about it without doing something about it]If any of you lacks wisdom,let him ask God,who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.[God is wise and gives generously, lovingly]

12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receivethe crown of life,which God has promised to those who love him.[God is testing us out of love and will reward us]

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down fromthe Father of lightswith whom there is no variation or shadow due to change[God gives good and perfect gifts, and this part of Him will never change]

27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:to visitorphans and widows in their affliction, andto keep oneselfunstained from the world.[God call us to love others and to love Him by reflecting Christ, which involves disciplining ourselves (refer to Proverbs 1- 10) to keep His Word that we remain unstained from the world]