Points of Meditation & Reflection
Sermon Title & Text James 4:11-12
Faith in Action! In this series we want to move from simply the mention of having faith to tangibly putting it into action by exercising faith in life’s challenges.
1. Christ is the standard of the Christian life. So when we speak to each other, our words have to meet the standard of Christ. When we speak against people we make ourselves the judge of the law of Christ.
2. To speak evil against people deposits negativity about one person into the mind of another person. Therefore devaluing that person and fracturing unity.
3. Speaking against and Judging people is to judge the quality of the law:
a. To speak against or judge people is to speak against the law and judge the law v11
b. Judging the quality of the law is to be a judge but not a doer of the law v11
4. We have earthly lawmakers but Christ is the lawgiver:
a. Christ as the only lawgiver and judge,
b. Christ is both the source and dispenser of justice.
c. Christ alone can save and destroy
5. God has a plan and a desire for every person, saved and unsaved. Speaking evil against people makes you their judge & a judge of the law. But, Christ is the only lawgiver and judge. So - who are we to judge our neighbor?

Notes:

Lord, we pray these notes and this message are a source of strength, guidance, and spiritual deepening for us all. Amen.

Edward

Everyday Jesus: James 4:11-12
To live humbly before to the Lord, we see Christ as the lawgiver and judge of other people. Therefore, we don’t speak evil or judge others.

• Monday: Read James 4:1-12, to maintain humility before the Lord is to surrender our opinions about people to the Lord. Humbly place your opinions about people before the Lord. Thank God for His greater love toward those that you have been critical of. Ask God for forgiveness for how our opinions of people have damaged others.
• Tuesday: Read James 4:11, the opposite of evil, destructive talk is loving, edifying talk. In prayer today, examine your speech. Ask the Lord to show where you speak evil toward others.
• Wednesday: In James 4:11, to speak evil and judge others negatively impacts our relationship with the Lord and prevents us from obeying the law ourselves. Meditate on v11 [think deeply about the truth of v11], let your time of meditation direct your prayer to the Lord today.
• Thursday: Read James 4:11-12, there is only one lawgiver and judge. Today, shift your focus off of people and onto your own relationship with God. Seek God for understanding of how/where you are not aligned with the Christ standard in your speech toward others.
• Friday: Read James 4:11-12, Simply thank God for saving you, instead of destroying you. But then thank Him for doing the same in the lives of those that you tend to be critical of.
• Saturday: Read James 4:12, when we judge others, we are elevating ourselves above Christ. Ask God to lower our speech and opinions of others so that Christ may be glorified through our love toward others.