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A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

06 Sunday Sep 2026

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Day 6: The Poor and the Rich

Any of God’s people who are poor should be glad
he thinks so highly of them. 
But any who are rich should be glad when God makes them humble.
Rich people will disappear like wild flowers 
scorched by the burning heat of the sun.
The flowers lose their blossoms,
and their beauty is destroyed.
This is how the rich will disappear,
as they go about their business.
(James 1:9-11, CEV)

Reflection

I confess I would rather be rich than poor. I would rather be honored than humbled. But in today’s reading from James, we see that God turns that kind of thinking on its head. God thinks highly of the poor. And on the opposite end of the wealth spectrum, James writes the “rich should be glad when God makes them humble.”

That’s the reverse of how the world operates. The rich are honored and the poor and needy are despised.

From where did James get the values reflected in the passage above? He got them directly from his half-brother, the Lord Jesus, the risen Christ.

Jesus begins his epic Sermon on the Mount with these words:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:3-5, ESV)

Jesus blessed the poor and honored the meek and humble in heart. That’s the kind of Savior we have. He hears the pleas of the beggar by the roadside of life. (See Mark 10:46-52.) Our Savior saves his rebukes for the rich, the proud, and the self-righteous. See Matthew 23.

There is no certainty in wealth. Paul gives this sound advice to Timothy: Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. (1 Timothy 6:17, CEV)

But it’s not just wealth that is uncertain. Our very lives are uncertain. Later in his epistle James issues this warning: What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears. (James 4:14, CEV)A rich man named Job declared, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart” (Job 1:21). Our security for now and all eternity must rest in Christ our Savior.

Response

Lord God, help me to put my complete trust in you rather than this world’s wealth. In practical ways help me to reflect your care for the poor and needy. If I prosper help me maintain a heart of humility and gratitude because all I have comes from you. I pray in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

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A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

30 Sunday Aug 2026

Posted by in James

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Day 5: The Faith Imperative

But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt.
Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm.
If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind,
and you surely can’t be trusted.
So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
(James 1:6-8, CEV)

Reflection

In today’s reading, James commands us to have faith. There is nothing timid or passive about the faith that James urges us to have. He calls us to a confident, aggressive kind of faith.

Where does that confident faith come from? It must come from the Lord Jesus Christ. In his life on earth, Jesus demonstrated aggressive faith—life-changing faith—mountain-moving faith.

Jesus gave his disciples this instruction: “Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and don’t doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.” (Mark 11:22-24, CEV)

Now that’s bold faith—mountain-moving faith.

What kind of prayers are you praying? Are you praying bold prayers? Does the devil tremble when you get on your knees to pray? Are you seizing the moment for God and His Kingdom? Or are your prayers self-centered and disrupted by doubt?

When we pray in God’s will we can pray with great confidence.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:13-15, NIV)

Christ’s faith was rock solid and immovable. That’s the kind of faith that James calls us to have. The doubter is uncertain of God’s will and is tossed to and froe by changing circumstances and worries. But the person who has heard God has a faith that is sure and anchored in the Almighty.

Rather than receiving wisdom, (see James 1:5) the doubter receives nothing. The man of faith moves mountains. The doubter moves nothing. Instead, the doubter is adrift moved by wind and wave.

Which would you rather be? A mover of mountains or a hapless drifter?

Response

Lord God, I need faith, but not just any faith. I need the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord grant me mountain-moving faith, not for my sake, but for the sake of your Kingdom and your glory. I ask in humility. I pray this in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

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A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

16 Sunday Aug 2026

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Day 4: Wisdom Promised

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God,
and it will be given to you.
God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.
(James 1:5, CEV)

Reflection

Do you need wisdom? I certainly do. I am sure we can all answer “yes” to that question.

Ah, but what kind of wisdom do you want? There are two kinds on offer: The wisdom of the world, or the wisdom of God.

Paul writes: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. (2 Corinthians 1:12, NIV)

The wisdom of this world draws us away from Christ and his message of grace and redemption. This is so because the wisdom of the world is centered on self—a self that is prone to pride and self-deception. In contrast, the wisdom of God is centered on God, the Creator and Redeemer of all things.

Genuine wisdom in any field of endeavor is a gift from God who is the giver of all good things. Later in this chapter James reminds us of the source of various gifts such as wisdom.

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. (James 1:17)

James reminds us that God will answer our prayers for wisdom because he is generous and willing to bestow gifts of wisdom on His children. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking (James 1:5b). By nature, He is a God of grace. Furthermore, He welcomes your requests.

Do I need wisdom? Yes, everyday, and in every way. Situations are constantly arising that call for wisdom. Best of all God is situated beyond time. He knows how every situation will end. He knows the consequences that our actions will set in motion. He knows what will happen tomorrow and ten years from now.

God can guide your steps into paths of wisdom. Solomon prayed for wisdom and God answered his prayer. (See 1 Kings 3:4-15.) Later we read, God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore (1 Kings 4:29).

Response

Lord God, I need your wisdom. You know the end before I even begin. Show me the way forward as I move through my day and all along the path of life. Let your wisdom guide me. Thank you for being a generous God who answers my prayers for wisdom by the mercy of Jesus. Amen.

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Direct My Footsteps

03 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by in Psalm 19, Psalms

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer
Today’s Reading: Psalm 19:7-11

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:


Heavenly Father,
help me draw life, wisdom, and joy
from your word every day.
Help me see your Word lighting
my way forward.
Amen.

— — — —

I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the LORD’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.
(Psalms 32:8-10 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for enduring peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.

To view further details or purchase this or other books directly from the author click here.

Coming into the Light

24 Friday Oct 2025

Posted by in Psalm 4, Psalms

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Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”
Today’s Reading: Psalm 4

Listen to Psalm 4 as read by Jonathan Dent:

Heavenly Father,
today let the light
of your face shine on me.
Guide me in the way of truth.
I want to look to you
and walk in the way
you have prepared for me.
Amen.

— — — —

The LORD wraps himself in light — photo by David Kitz

This is the verdict:
Light has come into the world,
but people loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil hates the light,
and will not come into the light
for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
But whoever lives by the truth
comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly
that what they have done
has been done in the sight of God.
(John 3:19-21 NIV)*

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Thank God for peace in Israel and Gaza,
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz

James—the brother of Jesus—who was this man? What evidence do we have that this “brother of our Lord” even existed?

David Kitz digs deep into archeology, family dynamics, church history, and the biblical texts. What emerges from his research is a portrait of a decisive, pivotal leader who embodied the will and character of Jesus Christ.

But how did James—James the unbeliever—transform to become a leader who changed the course of world history? In these pages you will uncover the answer and rediscover for yourself the life-changing power of the gospel.