James, Day 5 Readings

Patience and Prayer   

Today's reading concludes James' advice on how to practically live out faith.  It bookends the opening chapter by again emphasizing the need for patience.  While it may seem that waiting for God to act is unnecessary, James compares it to a farmer who has planted a field, waiting for the crop to grow and ripen before the harvest.  God has planted seeds of salvation, and is tending to them (implicitly, through the faithful acts of the church).

Importantly, these people must encourage and support one another during this time.  Together they must pray -- prayers of healing for the sick, of thanksgiving and praise for those who celebrate, prayers of confession for sinners -- trusting God to be with them, to support them, to forgive them, and ultimately to save them.

Read James 5:1-20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read James 5 today.