Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19, AV) The great American hero, GI Joe’s famous statement is, “Knowing is half the battle.” This statement came as a public service announcement that ended each one of the 1980 GI Joe cartoons. There would be aContinue reading “Half the Battle (James 2:19)”

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:18, AV) It might have been about 6 months to a year after the Lord saved me as I read a Gideon Bible in aContinue reading “Living Witness (James 2:18)”

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” . . . “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14, 17, AV) I worked with a man one time who talked a big game. One of theContinue reading “Dead Faith (James 2:14-17)”

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (James 2:13, AV) I heard an old story regarding Napoleon, the French dictator, that goes something like this. (I cannot verify the veracity of the story and do not know its origin.) Napoleon was presiding over the executionContinue reading “Manifestation of Mercy (James 2:13)”

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” (James 2:12, AV) The United States is considered to be the land of the free. This phrase is sung in our national anthem. Yet, with freedom, there comes responsibility. Freedom demands responsible people. Without responsible people freedom isContinue reading “Freedom and Responsibility (James 2:12)”

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:8–9, AV) I have met people who harbor prejudices against others deep in their heart. TheyContinue reading “Seriousness of Prejudice (James 2:8-11)”

“Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” (James 2:7–8, AV) Today, the media and many with a political agenda, have denigrated the rich in our country. They say thatContinue reading “Testimony of Wealth (James 2:6-7)”

“For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, StandContinue reading “Kowtowing (James 2:2-7)”

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” (James 2:1, AV) We live in a world of diversity. We have people from very diverse cultural backgrounds. These are people with different ancestry, languages, clothing, appearances, cultural norms, etc. Above this, there are class distinctives.Continue reading “Diversity (James 2:1-7)”

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27, AV) In the previous devotion, we looked at the witness of the person who attempts to practice religious worship. I mentioned that one’s language wouldContinue reading “Pure Religion (James 1:26-27)”