Boast in God's Faithful Work

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. - James 4:6

-THIS SUNDAY'S TEXT-

Boast in the Work of the Lord

James 1:9-11 reads, Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

· Both the lowly and the rich live in the same world.
· Both the lowly and the rich are called to rejoice in something that happens to them. · While both brothers are brought out of differing worldly conditions, they are transformed into the same spiritual condition that leads to rejoicing.

Every saved person can rejoice because his name is written in the Book of Life; because he is a child of God; because he has been saved and transformed. Regardless of his worldly standard (rich or poor) every man needs to be rescued and made anew in Christ – this is according to God’s standard.

The cost of redemption for the poor man was the same price for the cost of redemption for the rich man, and neither man could offer anything toward the price.
1 Peter 1:18-19 reads – knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ…

Rejoice brothers and sisters, whether rich or poor, God has faithfully rescued you from your condition on earth and has raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). Consider the cost, the beautiful exchange explained in 2 Corinthians 8:9 – For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.

-Consider and Meditate-

What is this richness? Read Ephesians 1:3-14

Consider all that you have received in Christ Jesus our Lord.

-PRAYER & THANKSGIVING-

Spend some time praying and reading the Word of God, seeking to grow in the wisdom of God.

Thank God for His wonderful work in saving you to Himself. Ask God to protect your heart and keep you seeking and loving Him and His kingdom. Pray for the unreached people group Pajonal Asheninka in Peru. Ask God to give you a heart of compassion for the lost and courage to share the gospel with the lost. Prayer for River's Edge (The River's Youth Ministry). We are preparing for our Fall Wilderness Walk. Pray that God will allow us to see His faithful work in the hearts of the friends of our youth. Our youth are praying for their friends to come to Christ. Our youth are being encouraged to share the gospel with their friends. Our youth are inviting their friends to the Wilderness Walk. And we are praying and asking God to move hearts to trust in Jesus Christ.

-Women of The River- It is time to sign up and invite your friends to sign up for the Women's Fall Bible Study (Women of the Word). The study begins Wednesday, September 9th. There is a study Wednesday mornings at 10am and a study Wednesday evenings at 6pm. Call the office (607-0912) to sign up.