James 2:19 (KJV) You Believe in God—So Do the Devils

James 2:19 (KJV)

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

This, I believe, is the axle upon which this chapter turns. The issue is the definition of faith. It is more than believing a thing to be true. Faith is active. Faith responds to truth. Faith is obedient.

Faith shows little respect for personal status on the earth. It accepts that God sets up one as well as another and gives that respect to the Lord, not to the one who has position or possessions. Faith recognizes that each of us will stand individually before God and give an account. Therefore, faith focuses on one’s own account and not another’s.

Faith changes one’s view of others. Rather than looking up to one and down upon another, faith glorifies the God who provides and reaches out to help those who have need.

Faith both knows and understands the Bible. Faith leads one to study to shew himself approved unto God, a workman rightly dividing the word of truth, so that illustrations such as those provided in James 2—of Abraham and of Rahab—make sense and have application to daily life.

Faith sees the Bible as a whole, not just one part or another. It is the person who focuses only on the works in this passage, without considering the whole message of Scripture, who runs into problems. One group, like the Catholics, emphasizes works and insists we must do them. Another, like Martin Luther, struggled to reconcile the works and wished the text removed.

Faith need not go to either extreme. Faith actively finds balance in the whole counsel of God.

The devils believe.

But they do not have faith.

#FaithThatActs #LivingFaith #James219 #FaithNotJustBelief #BiblicalFaith

You Believe in God—So Do the Devils: What Makes the Difference?

What do you think—does your faith show up in what you do? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. I’d like to hear how this passage challenges or encourages you.

For more Bible teaching, books, and resources to help you grow in real, active faith, visit marvinmckenzie.org.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

James 2:19 (KJV) You Believe in God—So Do the Devils

Here's a comic version of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxHl2p3TNdYTpmtS2KtDsJvAfrU_xIwpys?si=yoaQvGZRV_yvxQvm

James 1:5-8 (KJV) When Faith Is Tested

James 1:5-8 (KJV)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

The “anything” in this passage is wisdom.

The context is the trying of our faith and the development of “perfect patience.” The subject is “the brother of low degree” in contrast to the rich. It seems the riches spoken of here are not merely financial, but a measure of comfort and stability in this life.

When our faith is tried—and it will be tried—we need wisdom. That trial may come through persecution, loss, misunderstanding from loved ones, pressure at work, or any number of difficulties. In those moments, we are instructed to ask God for wisdom so we can navigate the trial rightly.

That wisdom is available. God gives it liberally. It is found in the Word of God.

Yet during trials, the answers Scripture gives can feel extreme, impractical, or even old-fashioned. So the real question becomes this: when we ask God for wisdom, will we receive it—or will we waver? Will we follow what God has said, or look elsewhere for another answer?

God has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness:

• He has given us the Word of God, which is truth.
• He has given us the local church, which is Christ’s body and a source of encouragement.
• He has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit, who illuminates the Word and directs our lives within the church.

The double-minded man questions the Word, becomes unfaithful to the church, and often quenches the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The result? He is unstable.
He misses the wisdom of the Word, loses the benefit of the church, and no longer senses the leading of the Spirit.

Are you going through a trial? Do you need wisdom to navigate it?

God has already provided it.

• Open your Bible and begin to study.
• Be faithful to the church where God has placed you.
• Allow the Holy Spirit to use both to guide you.

The waves will still be there.
The winds will still blow.

But if you are firm in your convictions—if you believe that the Bible is truth and that the local church is your refuge—you will find that you can weather the storm.

#AskGodForWisdom #FaithWithoutWavering #StandOnTheWord #StayFaithfulInTrials #AnchoredInTruth

When Faith Is Tested: God Already Gave You the Answer—Why Are You Wavering?

Going through a trial right now? Where do you find yourself—standing firm or starting to waver? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it.

For more Bible teaching, practical help, and resources to strengthen your faith, visit 👉 marvinmckenzie.org

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

James 1:5-8 (KJV) When Faith Is Tested

Here's a short comic version of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxdTgC7ndjwWTilwBAEDrDj5ICS5snHNnz?si=sb8rVDPBia4KIm2A

Hebrews 13:24 (KJV) Pastor, Don’t Skip This

Hebrews 13:24 (KJV)

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

I believe we have, in the book of Revelation chapters two and three, an example of how the letters of the New Testament were communicated. Jesus gave His message to John, who was then told to write seven individual letters to the angels (the word means messenger—certainly speaking of the pastors) of each of these churches. It can be expected, then, that those angels, or pastors, would pass the message on to the congregation.

Consider the various epistles of the New Testament written by Paul, Peter, John, and Jude. Some were written directly to individuals—such as 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. Others were written to church congregations, such as 1 and 2 Corinthians. These letters, I imagine, were delivered to the messenger or pastor of the church, who then read them to the congregation. Likely, these readings were accompanied by exposition, explanation, perhaps even some pointed correction, and maybe questions and answers.

I assume something much the same took place with the book of Hebrews. A pastor has possession of this inspired material and is charged with passing the message down to his congregation. As we approach the end of the letter, the pastor is told to instruct his congregation: “Salute all them that have the rule over you… and all the saints.”

In other words:

• “Pastor, tell your congregation to salute their pastor and those who labor alongside him.”
• “Pastor, teach your congregation to show respect to you and those assembled to help lead the church.”

Of course, he is also to teach them to salute one another—to develop kind and Christ-honoring relationships within the body. But he is to do more than that. He is to teach them to maintain good, right relationships with their pastor and church leadership.

It can feel awkward—but many aspects of ministry are.

Pastor, don’t neglect teaching your congregation how to treat you and those who serve with you. They need that just as much as they need any other part of the Word of God.

#HonorYourPastor #BiblicalLeadership #ChurchOrder #ShepherdAndFlock #Hebrews1324

Pastor, Don’t Skip This—Are You Neglecting This Awkward but Necessary Truth?

What are your thoughts on Hebrews 13:24?
Drop a comment below—I’d like to hear how this truth has shaped your view of church and leadership.

For more Bible teaching, resources, and study materials, visit marvinmckenzie.org and stay grounded in the Word.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Hebrews 13:24 (KJV) Pastor, Don’t Skip This

Check out this comic version of the lesson

http://youtube.com/post/Ugkxu4tG_sKkMbsXVbk-W0zsgp-dviQ884R2?si=MS5-0FTADolN0H-q

Hebrews 12:16 (KJV) The Silent Killer of Faith

Hebrews 12:16 (KJV)

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

I want to meditate for a few moments on the subject of the profane person.

First, we are admonished to look diligently—to beware of him.
The profane person can spoil our walk with the Lord as surely as anyone.

Second, he is associated with the bitter and the fornicator.
He may not be a bitter man, nor is he necessarily a fornicator, but he is not much different in the damage he can cause in our spiritual relationships.

• Bitterness is an attitude.
• Fornication is an action.
• Profanity is apathy.

Profanity is not religious. It is “open and accessible to all.” Profanity is to have no concern for the things of God or of eternal consequence.

We have an example in the text: “As Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”
Profanity is to seek the pleasure of the flesh (I use this purposely instead of the word sin, to point out that the pleasure of the flesh is often sin) for a season.

Notice the Bible’s wording: “one morsel of meat.” It was a bite. It was barely enough to satisfy for a moment. Esau cared so little for the things that mattered that he gave them up for a moment’s pleasure.

Eternal things—things of weight and substance—are most often gained at great price. There is a separation from the world necessary for an appreciation and apprehension of those things of eternal value.

The profane—those who care nothing for them—will not only fail to possess them, but they will also encourage those of us who have them to let them go.

We cannot lose our salvation, but we can surely lose the joy of it.

Look diligently. Don’t let the profane person spoil your faith!

#Hebrews1216 #GuardYourBirthright #SpiritualApathy #EternalThingsMatter #LookDiligently

The Silent Faith Killer of Faith: Profanity Isn’t What You Think

Before you scroll past, take a moment—this truth deserves a response.

What stood out to you most from Hebrews 12:16? Have you ever seen how spiritual apathy can quietly creep in? Drop a comment below and join the conversation—I’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts.

If this helped you, there’s more waiting for you. Visit marvinmckenzie.org for Bible studies, teaching materials, and resources designed to strengthen your walk with God.

👉 Don’t just read—engage, respond, and grow.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7100 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Hebrews 12:16 (KJV) The Silent Killer of Faith

View this cartoon representation of the lesson.

http://youtube.com/post/Ugkxkvtul_RMfXajOwh5IeAiH7MBIofAB4jr?si=aWXYuHg2va6Ktum_