A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

01 Sunday Nov 2026

Tags

Bible, Christ, Christian faith, consumer culture, epistle of James, God's blessing, God's commands, gospel message, James, Jesus, redemption, Savior, Scripture, sermon, the Law, the message, the word

Day 13: Freedom under the Perfect Law

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free.
God will bless you in everything you do,
if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.
(James 1:25, CEV)

Reflection

We live in a consumer culture and that culture permeates our daily life. We are consumers of food and drink, products and services. We are consumers of sports, music, and entertainment. Furthermore, when we step inside a church we become consumers of religious services.

God help the poor pastor who doesn’t realize that the people gathered before him have arrived with a consumer mentality. Will the pastor rise to the occasion and meet their expectations, or will they leave disappointed with the message they hear? Will the message that is preached make it to the parking lot, or will it be forgotten and neglected?

James addresses our consumer mentality head-on. First, he urges us to continually look to God’s word:

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. (James 1:25a, CEV)

James is not writing his epistle to full-time pastors. He is addressing all believers in Jesus Christ. All believers must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets [them] free. This means our Bibles should not be gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. A good Bible is a Bible that is worn, marked, and tattered through daily use.

Why is immersing ourselves in the Word—the perfect law—so important? James tells us this perfect law sets us free. Free from what?

In his epistle to the Colossians, Paul answers that question. For he [the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14, NIV)

We are set free from the dominion of Satan and our fetters of sin. Now through the redemptive work of Christ, we are living under new management—the management of a loving heavenly Father. All this happens through the cleansing power of the Word that in the person of Jesus comes to dwell among us. (See John 15:3.)

For the Word to become effective in our lives we must become more than consumers of Sunday sermons. We must become doers of the Word. Doing triggers God’s blessing.

God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget. (James 1:25, CEV)

Response

Lord God, help me to genuinely value your Word. I want to be a doer of your Word by applying what I hear and read. Lord Jesus, I want to know your Word experientially in my day-to-day life. Her my prayer. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law (Psalm 119:18). Amen.

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A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

25 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by davidkitz in James

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Christ, Christian faith, epistle of James, God's commands, gospel message, grace and truth, James, Jesus, salvation, Savior, Scripture, the message, the word

Day 13: Freedom under the Law

But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free.
God will bless you in everything you do,
if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.
(James 1:25, CEV)

Reflection

In my discussion of James 1:18, I stated that, “Jesus didn’t just proclaim the message of salvation. He is the message of salvation.” (See Day 10.)

In his Gospel, John verifies this perspective when he writes:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, NIV)

The message—the gospel message—is personified in Jesus. It logically follows that when James commands us to “Obey God’s message!” he is also commanding us to “Obey Jesus!” Paul also reminds us of this truth when he writes, “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9, NIV). So, it logically follows that obedience to the message is obedience to Christ.

As followers of Christ, how does Jesus view our relationship with him? In his own words Jesus answers this question in one of the last conversations he had with his disciples. (See John 14:15-21.)

Jesus begins this intimate discussion with these words, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15, NIV).

There are two central truths about the Christian faith that are evident from this brief verse. First, Jesus expects—no requires that we love him. Love is both an emotion and a motivator. Love is not simply a feeling. Love is an emotion that puts us into motion. True love is not passive. It’s active.

This brings us to the second point. Love is demonstrative. Jesus demonstrated his love for us by suffering and dying for us on the cross. In turn, how do we demonstrate our love for Jesus? We show our love by keeping his commands. This means we need to know his commands.

And where do we find his commands? We find his commands in the message—the Scriptures—the living Word of God. When we love the Word, we are loving Jesus, and when we obey the Word we are obeying Jesus.

Let’s become genuine lovers of Jesus. (See Peter’s restoration, John 21:15-19, CEV.)

Response

Lord God, I want to obey your message. Lord Jesus, I love you. Thank you for first loving me. Help me to practically demonstrate my love for you through the way I live, through my words and deeds. I want to apply your Word to my life and so become a doer of the Word. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

18 Sunday Oct 2026

Posted by davidkitz in James

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epistle of James, evil, humble, humility, immoral, James, Jesus, pride, Pride and Humility, redemption, salvation, Savior, the message

Day 12: Humility and the Message Planted in You

You must stop doing anything immoral or evil.
Instead be humble
and accept the message planted in you to save you.
(James 1:21, CEV)

Reflection

Humility. Who needs it?

Humility is a much-overlooked character quality. But then, that’s rather unsurprising. Afterall, humility doesn’t announce its presence with loud shouts, a red carpet, or a trumpet fanfare. But here in today’s reading from the Epistle of James, we have humility playing the central role—a pivotal role.

Humility changes everything.

Change in the human condition cannot happen—will not happen without humility. Humility is the precondition for personal change. Furthermore, today’s verse is all about change:

You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message planted in you to save you (James 1:21, CEV).

We have no trouble in agreeing with the first part of this verse. You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. We can all see that evil and immorality are rampant in the world. It’s all around us, in our newsfeeds, in the breakdown of societal norms, in harmful addictions, in crime and corruption. We have no problem identifying the problem. We are steeped in it.

We see the immorality and evil in others. But do we see it in ourselves? Far too often the words of Jesus apply to us. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3, NIV)

That’s where self-reflection and humility enter the picture. We only see our faults, imperfections, and misdeeds when we humble ourselves. Pride blinds us to our sins and shortcomings.

What can save us from our blind and wretched condition?

James 1:21 clearly tells us that the message is planted in you to save you. Jesus is the message of salvation. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Jesus lived a sinless life and suffered in our stead to purchase our redemption.

Today will you receive the message—the gospel message? Will you let it grow within you? That will take humility. It means admitting your failures and your needy condition.

Who needs humility? I do.

Response

Lord God, forgive my pride. I humble myself before you. Thank you for sending Jesus. I need his help. Lord Jesus, I receive you as my Savior. Plant your word—your message within me. Help me to grow daily in my knowledge and love for you. I thank you for your amazing grace and love for me. Amen.

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A Devotional Journey through the Epistle of James

06 Sunday Sep 2026

Posted by davidkitz in James

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arrogance, epistle of James, generous God, God's grace, humble, humility, James, Jesus, prayer for guidance, prayers, Savior, self-righteous, tested, the poor, the proud, the rich, uncertainty of wealth

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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Satisfy Us in the Morning

15 Saturday Aug 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 90, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

compassionate, faithfulness, gladness, God's favor, joy, Lord God, praise the LORD, Prayer, Psalms, Savior, trouble, trust in God

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to Psalm 90:13-17 read by Jonathan Dent.

Reading: Psalm 90:13-17 (NIV)*

Relent, LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Response

LORD God, I often become impatient or frustrated with my work. Open my eyes to see how you are working in me and through me as I go about my daily tasks. Help me to have an eternal perspective. Lord, establish the work of my hands. Amen.

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

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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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.

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

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As Long as the Heavens Endure

08 Saturday Aug 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 89, Psalms

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anointed, compassionate, covenant, David, faithfulness, firstborn, foes, Lord God, praise the LORD, Prayer, Psalms, Savior, trust in God, warrior

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to Psalm 89:19-29 read by Jonathan Dent.

Reading: Psalm 89:19-29 (NIV)*

Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.
The enemy will not get the better of him;
the wicked will not oppress him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.
My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn will be exalted.
I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers.
He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.’
And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.
I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Response

LORD God, I am thankful for Jesus. I am thankful that in the dark long ago you devised a plan to send a Savior to this world. You sent a better son than David. You sent Jesus to redeem me from the bondage of sin and a sentence of death. Thank you, Lord Jesus! Amen.

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

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.

To view further details or purchase click here.

God’s True Firstborn

05 Wednesday Aug 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 89, Psalms

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Abraham, David, Ethan the Ezrahite, firstborn, Jesus, Mary, Moses, Psalms, Savior, Son of God, the LORD

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Reading: Psalm 89:19-29 (NIV)*

Once you spoke in a vision,
    to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
    I have raised up a young man from among the people.
I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.
The enemy will not get the better of him;
    the wicked will not oppress him.
I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries.
My faithful love will be with him,
    and through my name his horn will be exalted.
I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers.
He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, the Rock my Savior.’
And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
    the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
I will maintain my love to him forever,
    and my covenant with him will never fail.
I will establish his line forever,
    his throne as long as the heavens endure.

Reflection

Who is the principal figure in the Old Testament canon? Some would argue for Moses, the liberator of a nation of slaves. Others would go farther back yet to Abraham, the ancestral father of the nation of Israel. Here in Psalm 89, Ethan the Ezrahite and author of this psalm casts his vote in favor of David.

David’s name appears more frequently in the Bible than any name including the name of Jesus. Here in Psalm 89, Ethan draws a direct prophetic link to Jesus, the Son of God. He writes this about David: He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth (v. 26-27).

No other man in the Holy Scriptures can claim to be appointed as God’s firstborn. This is an honor that is reserved for David alone. But David prefigures or foreshadows Jesus, the true Son of God. Jesus was not appointed to the role of God’s son. He was conceived and born into this world as the divine Son of the Most High. Through the miracle of incarnation, the son of Mary was also the Son of God and the Savior of the world. And this Mary was of royal lineage. She was a direct descendant of King David.

In Jesus Christ these words find their fulfillment: I will maintain my love to him [David] forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his [David’s] line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure (v. 28-29).

Response

LORD God, I am thankful for Jesus. I am thankful that in the dark long ago you devised a plan to send a Savior to this world. You sent a better son than David. You sent Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn

Are you thankful for God’s Son? Why? How will you express your appreciation today?

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

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

God of Israel, Lord Over All

24 Friday Jul 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 86, Psalms

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David, Israel, Jesus, praise, Prayer, Psalms, Savior, the LORD, undivided heart, whole-hearted, wholehearted, worship

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

Reading: Psalm 86:8-13 (NIV)*

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
    will come and worship before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
    you alone are God.
Teach me your way, LORD,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.

Reflection

Today’s reading from Psalm 86 begins with this prophetic declaration. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

Psalm 86 is a prayer of David, but within this prayer David makes this prophetic statement about all nations worshipping the Lord. By the Spirit of God, David saw and declared what is to come. In the pantheistic world of his time, David saw that the God he served was not a local or national god. He saw that Yahweh, the LORD was, is and will be the Lord overall. How could David know that the God of Israel would come to be worshipped in every nation on the earth?

David grasped the big picture. Or a better explanation might be that the God of the big picture grasped David and revealed this truth to him. Through David’s line would come a Savior—a Savior named Jesus—a Jewish Savior for the whole world.

Stained glass of King David in St. Peter’s church in Fordham, UK (Flickr/Simon Webster)

Why was David able to receive such a profound revelation? We are given a clue in the words of his prayer. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

The answer may lie in David’s heart. He had an undivided heart. In other words, he was wholehearted in his love for the Lord. He had a single-minded focus on God. He says just that in the next line of his prayer. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

Are you wholehearted in your love and praise for the Lord?

Response

LORD God, unite my heart to praise your name. I don’t want to be distracted by the pursuits of this world. I set my affection on you. Thank you for loving me as your child. Amen.

Your Turn

What are some of the things that distract you from loving and fearing God? How can you develop an undivided heart?

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

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
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Those Whose Strength Is in You

18 Saturday Jul 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 80, Psalms

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Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord God, praise the LORD, Prayer, Psalms, restore, Savior, Son of Man, spiritual restoration, trust in God, vine

Listen to Psalm 84:1-7 read by Jonathan Dent

Reading: Psalm 84:1-7 (NIV)*

For the director of music. According to gittith.
Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

Response

LORD God, I want to be near to you today. I want to dwell where you are. Please come and stay with me. I invite you into my life. Be as close to me as my next breath. Amen.

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

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Son of Man You Have Raised Up

11 Saturday Jul 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 80, Psalms

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Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord God, praise the LORD, Prayer, Psalms, restore, Savior, Son of Man, spiritual restoration, trust in God, vine

Listen to Psalm 80:8-19 read by Jonathan Dent

Reading: Psalm 80:8-19 (NIV)*

You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.

Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.
Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.

Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

Response

LORD God, on so many levels our nation is in a mess. We need a Savior to emerge. Jesus, you are the great Son of Man. You are our Savior. I turn my heart to you. Govern my thoughts and my actions every day. Holy Spirit come and turn our hearts toward you. Amen.

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

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II

Take a journey to the cross.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Day 13: Freedom under the Perfect Law

Day 13: Freedom under the Law

Day 12: Humility and the Message Planted in You

Day 6: The Poor and the Rich

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 90:13-17 (NIV)*

Response

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 89:19-29 (NIV)*

Response

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 89:19-29 (NIV)*

Response

Your Turn

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 86:8-13 (NIV)*

Response

Your Turn

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Listen to Psalm 84:1-7 read by Jonathan Dent

Reading: Psalm 84:1-7 (NIV)*

Response

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Listen to Psalm 80:8-19 read by Jonathan Dent

Reading: Psalm 80:8-19 (NIV)*

Response

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!