Jesus started His preaching by saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near". To repent is not just being sorry about the sins we commit but about turning our lives around and living our life differently - not our agenda, but God's agenda. When Jesus called His first disciples, He did not wait for them to be ready, but He called them whilst they were busy doing their own work. The men did not hestitate to change their own agenda and go in a new direction in their lives to follow Jesus. How will you respond when Jesus calls you to change your agenda? Will your priority be to follow Jesus?

One of the greatest issues we face is determining our place in the world. As Christians, we need to also ask what is God's purpose for us in this world and what is the purpose for the church as a whole. We were made to worship God. He made us to be in a relationship with Him. Paul tells us in Romans 12:1, that we need to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is worship! At Emu Plains Community Baptist Church, our Purpose Statement is to "Know Christ, Grow Christ like, Show Christ's love and Sow Christ's gospel". We need to be transformed in ourselves and to take that transformation out into this world. (Our church broke into 6 groups to discuss this further. The main item that each group thought we needed to focus on is shared at the end of the message - see also notes attached).

We know there is conflict in our world, our country, our neighbourhood, our churches, our families and even within ourselves. James reminds us, as we look at this passage, that we need to look at ourselves to see what is happening in our lives. We are responsible for our own issues. In times of conflict with others we need to examine ourselves, our prayer life and check our motivation - are we connecting with the world rather than with the values of God. James tells us that we must submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. We need to really hate sin and repent to God when we fall short of His expectations. We need to remember, that as Christians, and whatever the situation, we are united to God through Jesus Christ.

James indicates that we already know the consequences if we do not tame our tongue. Teachers of scripture are particularly picked out in that they will be judged more strictly. We all need to be a living example of how Christ would want us to act. James implies that the impact of the tongue on teachers, on individuals, on whole churches and the entire body of Christ, can have two scenarios; the one inspired by God, the other inspired by self interest. We need to be careful not to fall into the trap of praising God one minute and then be destructive the next. Let us be careful in what we say. We need to stop and think before opening our mouth and we should respond to others as if we were speaking directly to Jesus.

James reminds us, as Christians, not to show favouritism to one person or group over another. Showing favouritism misrepresents God, dishonours those we reject and breaks the law of love. What are we to do? Verse 8 tells us to keep the royal law - "love your neighbour as yourself". We need to love all people, whoever they are, and reach out to them in their time of need, so that God's love to them can be shown, they can be healed, shown forgiveness and be made whole.