May 27
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JAMES 5
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. – James 5:12
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JAMES 5 SAY YES OR NO AND NOTHING VAGUE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
The Lord our God is a God of accuracy and precision
On the other hand, the devil is the god of confusion
We were given laws by God so we can walk in love
The evil one steals our peace and brings doom.
From the mouth of God comes only what is true
There is nothing vague or unclear in his words
The devil twists truth to entice people to sin
Be wary of his tricks and don’t let him win.
Let your “yes” or “no” be clear; do not be vague
If you are in-between, it’s from the evil one
When you say “yes” but actually meant “no”
You are lying and not stating what is really true.
We were made in God’s image and likeness
The devil wants to twists that image and accuse us
Let us therefore be vigilant to follow our Maker
We were not designed to participate and do what’s evil.
Do not swear or make vows that you cannot keep
Instead, say “If the Lord wills, I will do this or that”
When you are asked, give a firm and concise answer
When you are vague, you are either lying or hiding something.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think James warns us about vows and oaths and being clear with our yes and no? What happens if we make vows or become unclear with our words?