Living, active faith is always evident. It is demonstrated through what we do and do not do, by the strength of our character, our commitment to prayer, and our concern for others. There should be no question in people's minds as to whether we are followers of Christ.
Do our lives stand apart from the world or reflect the values and attitudes of it? This is a question we need to ask and answer daily. The fourth chapter of James offers important insight into how we can maintain a godly life in the face of the world's subtle temptations.
In the words we speak, we each carry with us the ability to bring great blessing or great harm. The book of James reminds us of the power of words and points us to how we can control our speech for God's glory and the benefit of us and others.
It is by faith that we are justified before God. But as James points out, it is by works that we are justified before people. Our good works are the result of faith, the measure of faith, and the evidence of faith.
There is no place in the church for partiality of any kind. Yet, this sin can very subtly appear in the way we treat people differently. The letter of James addresses this problem and its solution in clear and very practical terms.
Trials and temptations are common to all human beings. This is why the first chapter of the letter of James is so practical to us all---it addresses real-life issues. And that is true for the rest of the book. James presents wisdom for life.
The book of Hebrews ends with a chapter full of admonitions and exhortations. They are final reminders of the importance of such things as practicing brotherly love, honoring godly leaders, committing ourselves unreservedly to Christ, and offering praise to God.
Hebrews 12 compares the Christian life to a race. To complete our race successfully, we must look in faith to Jesus, who finished the race before us and gives us the hope and strength to keep at it ourselves till we cross the finish line.
Hebrews 11 is known as the "faith chapter." Here faith is explained by what it does, and it is exemplified in the lives of great men and women of faith in the Bible. Their lives still speak to us and encourage us in our faith.
Christ's sacrifice and high priesthood are foundational to a faithful Christian life. The author of Hebrews makes it clear how these truths should affect how we think, pray, encourage one another, and remain loyal to Christ.
Psalm 51 records David’s heartfelt confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Stephen Davey explains it as a model of genuine repentance. He begins with David’s petition—a plea for mercy based on God’s steadfast love. Aware of the weight of his guilt, David asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from sin. The second step is admission: David accepts full responsibility, refusing to blame others and acknowledging his fallen nature. His sin, he admits, flows from the sinful heart of humanity inherited from Adam. Next comes restoration: David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” recognizing that only divine power can renew what sin has corrupted. Finally, his resolution is to teach others from his failure—to lead sinners back to God through honesty and repentance. Davey concludes that true confession involves humble honesty, complete dependence on God’s mercy, and a transformed resolve to live transparently before Him, proving that no sin is too great for God’s restoring grace.
Psalms 42–44 open the second book of Psalms, where Stephen Davey explains that God invites believers to pour out their hearts to Him with complete honesty. The sons of Korah—descendants of a rebel who chose faithfulness—wrote of spiritual dryness and discouragement: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Davey notes that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. These psalms teach believers to trust and wait for the Lord, declaring, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In Psalm 44, this personal trust expands to national suffering as Israel endures consequences for sin yet clings to God’s covenant faithfulness. Paul later cites this psalm to remind believers that suffering is not abandonment but evidence of spiritual maturity. Through these lessons, Davey encourages believers to be honest with God, steadfast in hope, and confident that even in dry seasons, God remains their salvation and strength.
In The Voice of Creation (Psalm 19:1–8a), Stephen Davey contrasts Carl Sagan’s hopeless view of a silent universe with David’s joyful proclamation that creation declares the glory of God. Davey explains that the heavens continually reveal God’s signature, wisdom, and grace—a universal testimony to His power and creativity. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature point unmistakably to a Designer, but this general revelation alone cannot save; it must be joined with the special revelation of God’s Word. David moves from calling God El (Creator) to Yahweh (personal Redeemer), showing that Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and causes the heart to rejoice. Davey concludes that while creation proves God’s existence, His Word reveals His character and plan of redemption. Believers, therefore, should worship the Creator revealed both in the world around us and in the inspired Word that leads us back to Him.
This lesson from Deuteronomy 16–26 emphasizes God's righteousness as the standard for all of life. Moses reviews the importance of righteous leadership—judges, kings, priests, and prophets—who are called to uphold justice and truth. God's laws are revisited to guide Israel in holy living, covering areas like inheritance, morality, and societal order. These commands act like protective boundaries, showing how a righteous person should live. Finally, Israel’s worship is tied to gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. The lesson encourages believers to live righteously, not just privately but visibly, so the world sees God's wisdom and character through them.
Psalms 39–41 remind believers to guard their words, gain perspective, and give praise. Stephen Davey explains that David, like James, recognized the power of the tongue and the danger of unrestrained speech. Confronted by frustration and fleeting life, David prays for wisdom to live with eternity in view—his hope fixed on God, not anger or enemies. Psalm 40 celebrates deliverance: God lifts the believer from the pit, sets his feet on solid ground, and puts a new song of praise in his mouth. In Psalm 41, which closes the first book of Psalms, David affirms that true wisdom comes from trusting and thanking God continually. Davey concludes that since we speak thousands of words daily, we should dedicate many of them to glorify God—cultivating gratitude, guarding our lips, and proclaiming the everlasting truth: “Blessed be the Lord… Amen and Amen.”
