"but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:14-15

In their book “The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus’ Path of Power in a Church that Has Abandoned It” authors Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel write: “For years Kyle and I [Jamin Goggin] had no trouble looking critically upon others in their quest for power. We bemoaned the rock-star pastors who were in the spotlight, whose churches appeared to be more concerned with growing their brand than proclaiming the gospel. This is the first temptation of power: We view the problem as “out there.” We recognize it in other churches, pastors, fellow Christians, or political and cultural leaders, but we ignore the problem in our own hearts. For Kyle and me personally, this remains a strong temptation. 

As men with a calling to teach and lead, we can often default to analyzing the error of others without honestly assessing the truth about ourselves. Accordingly, it is easy to allow the word power to trigger a mental list of tyrannical and narcissistic leaders. Likewise, it can be much harder to find examples of those who have embraced power properly. 

Mother Teresas are rare. In a fallen world, this is reality. In contrast, our first inclination should not be to identify the problem of power as somewhere “out there,” but as “in here,” within our own hearts. Jesus says, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye”. We find it much easier to become burdened and angered by sins that are not our own. 

When those sins are committed by those in leadership, we find it even easier. Notice, Jesus is not saying the solution is to ignore the sins of others. We should name sins, just as Jesus did. However, we must recognize that only after naming the truth of our own sin can we come in grace and truth to name the sins of others. 

Only when we see the truth of ourselves can we have mercy to address others in God’s grace. As those forgiven by God, we pray, ‘Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us’”.

When temptation approaches, you do not necessarily have to fall into sin. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to keep you away from temptation and to deliver you from all evil.

"The devil tempts that he may ruin; God tests that he may crown." - Ambrose

God's Word: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." - Hebrews 4:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22

Author Colleen Strachan writes: “Dallas Willard gave a series of lectures on the kingdom of God. In one, he discussed the popularity of the phrase, ‘The truth will set you free’ by putting it in its proper kingdom context:

The whole passage from John 8 is this, ‘When Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ It’s amazing how people will just start at the end and come back and chop off what they want.

We have an elevator at USC [where I teach philosophy] in the humanities building that just says ‘The truth will make you free.’ Apparently, you don’t even have to know [the truth]. It just works, right? Jesus really said, ‘If you continue in my word.’ That means ‘If you put in practice what I do, if you walk in it.’”

Reading and listening to the Bible is good. Following the Lord’s teaching is even better. Today in prayer, spend some extra time today reading God’s Word. Then ask the Lord how you can better live out the Bible in your life.

“Let us receive nothing, believe nothing, follow nothing which is not in the Bible, nor can be proved by the Bible.” – J.C. Ryle

God’s Word: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12

In his book “A Free People's Suicide: Sustainable Freedom and the American Future”, Os Guinness writes: “The day after Christmas would normally have been a quiet day in Washington, D.C., above all on Capitol Hill. But December 26, 1941, was different. It was only nineteen days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and both the Senate chamber and the overflow gallery were packed to hear British Prime Minister Winston Churchill address a joint session of the United States Congress.

With the Capitol ringed by police and soldiers, the lectern bristling with microphones, and the glare of unusually bright lights in the chamber for the film cameras, Churchill started his thirty-minute address with a light touch. "If my father had been an American," he said, "and my mother British, instead of the other way around, I might have gotten here on my own. In that case this would not have been the first time you would have heard my voice."

Churchill then rose to his central theme. Britain was standing alone, but reeling. Most of Europe lay prostrate under the Nazi heel. Hitler was well on his way to Moscow. Half of the American Navy was at the bottom of the Hawaiian harbor, and there was little or no air force to rise to the nation's defense. He therefore delivered a stern denunciation of the Japanese and the German menace, and warned about "the many disappointments and unpleasant surprises that await us" in countering them.

At the heart of the prime minister's address was a famous question to his listeners in light of the Japanese aggression: "What kind of a people do they think we are? Is it possible that they do not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they and the world will never forget?"”

As Christians, we are called to persevere in Christ. Are you feeling pressured or persecuted for your faith? Today in prayer, give the trials you are facing to the Lord and seek to persevere in Him in all that you do.

"Our motto must continue to be perseverance. And ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success." - William Wilberforce

God’s Word: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3-4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES  †

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6

In his book, The Enormous Exception, Earl Palmer tells about a pre-med undergrad at the University of California, Berkley, who became a Christian after a long journey through doubts and questions. A bout with the flu kept him out of classes for 10 days. During that critical absence from his organic chemistry class, a Christian classmate carefully collected all his missed lectures and assignments. The person took time from his own studies to help his friend catch up with the class.

Years later, the pre-med student, now a committed Christian, told Palmer, “You know that this just isn’t done, and I probably wouldn’t have done it, but he gave that help to me without any fanfare or complaints. I wanted to know what made this friend of mine act the way he did. I found myself asking him if I could go to church with him.” Palmer wrote, “I think the best tribute I ever heard concerning a Christian was the tribute spoken of this student. ‘I felt more alive when I was around this friend.’”

Doubts dispel and our faith grows strong as we yield are hearts to God’s Word. Today in prayer, look to the Lord and place every area of your life in His hands.

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” – Oswald Chambers

God’s Word: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES †

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” – James 1:2-3

Pastor Ray Johnston, in his book “The Hope Quotient”, wrote: “David Letterman’s old late-night segment “Will It Float?” once inspired our staff to fill a huge water tank, place it at the front of an auditorium, and ask three thousand people to vote which of a series of items would float. We collected a bunch of unusual objects: a can of Spam, a five-pound bag of flour, an egg, a gallon of milk, a Shaq bobblehead doll. It was pretty funny. 

After everyone voted, we threw in the objects, one by one, and then asked everyone to stare at the tank to see what would happen. 

• Egg: floated. 

• Spam: sank. 

• Gallon of milk: floated. 

• Shaq bobblehead doll: the body sank but the head floated. 

• Five-pound bag of flour: fell apart and turned the whole tank white. 

I turned to the audience after the results and said, ‘Nobody does very well in marriage, in relationships, at work, psychologically, or in life in general if they’re not buoyant. Getting down is part of life. Staying down is what will kill you.’”

Through testing our faith can be strengthened. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that when we face trials, we do not have to face them alone. In Christ, we can endure them and preserve in our faith. 

"Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict. What is challenging your faith right now?" - Oswald Chambers

God’s Word: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” – 1 Peter 1:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN JAMES  †