James 4:7–Submit & Resist

James 4:7–Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

I love verses like this one, verses that give clear and concise direction: submit to God and resist the devil.  I also appreciate the intentional implication of the order here that in submitting to God, we will be able to resist the devil.  Let me say this directly, if we are struggling to resist the devil, we should check our submission.  Or, the other way around, if we are not submitting to God, we will most certainly struggle to resist the devil.

The response is clear.  Submission then resistance.

James 1:12–Remain Steadfast

James 1:12–"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him."

Perseverance is, by definition, a difficult thing. It asks us to withstand tension, sometimes to the point of breaking us because of the strain.  But, as James is writing here, perseverance is about staying steadfast in enduring the trials that test us, and in so doing we will be refined and rewarded.  The point is that we would remain steadfast whilst under the taxing struggles of this life.  So let us not grow tired of being perseverant for if we are we will receive blessing from God.

James 4:10–Humble Yourself

James 4:10–"Humble yourself before the Lord and He will exalt you."

There is a direct connection between self-induced humility and God exalting His people.  In a sense, penitence is the singular requirement of receiving blessing from the Lord.  This relationship is based upon the basic premise that God is who He is.  When we recognize who the Lord is we can only respond with a sincere humility.  In other words, admitting who we really are before God is one of the essential steps in receiving the great blessings from the Father.

Let us then always keep this before us that we would humble ourselves before Him so as to always see ourselves in the light of who He is.

James 1:5–Advice for Fools

James 1:5–"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him."

I have an honest confession to make: I am a fool.

More often than I'd care to share I am utterly and hopelessly foolish.  Be it that one comment I made to my wife, the way I said something that should've never been shared, taking the last bite of cheesecake (not to mention having already eaten the majority of it already), or the way I cut-off the car in the next lane because I wasn't paying attention to anything outside of my vehicle.  The verdict is in: I am a fool.

That is why this verse is so profoundly comforting to me.  If you're anything like me then I highly suggest that you take heed to what this verse is asserting, and that you, like me, would earnestly pray to be granted wisdom so as to no longer be foolish.

But praise be to God and His graciousness, that He would impart wisdom to fools so that they may no longer be fools!

James 1:2-3–Count Trials as Joy

James 1:2-3–"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

This can be a very difficult passage to embrace.  It speaks of trials with an eye with joy, not to think of the trial for its present infliction but to consider them, rather, as means to a godly end.  The point, then, that we infer from this passage is that the any trial that we may face can be reduced if we maintain a proper perspective of hope that God would and does use every to grow His people.  It is true that trials will come and that we will still feel pain.  But we should not lose our secure hope in the reality that God uses whatever predicament we may find ourselves in for our good and for His glory.

All I can say to this is:

Amen!  Praise be to God!

James4:17–Knowing What is Right and Not Doing It

James 4:17–"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin."

This verse and those like it (Luke 12:47-48; John 9:41; 2Pet 2:21) confirm one simple truth: that righteousness is not optional for the righteous. There seems to be a specific ethic espoused in Scripture for the people of God.  This ethic calls out from the very depths of our beings just as the Holy Spirit is living within us and calling out to us and compelling us to live according to the holy commandments.

But as the Scriptures exhort, the righteous life is not merely about eschewing the evil; it is equally about doing the good.  And this doing good demands that we do the right at all times.  Add to this the stipulation that if we know what the right thing to do is and we fail to do it, we fall into sin.  In other words, our knowledge of God and of godliness holds us accountable to live by His righteous standards.

We should not ever forget this basic, fundamental component to the Christian life as we strive to live righteously as God calls us to do!

James 1:14–A Note On Temptation

James 1:13-14–"Let no one say when he is tempted: 'I am being tempted by God.' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."

It is a common misconception to think that it is God Himself who tempts us in order to 'test' us.  To be sure, this is a perverse misunderstanding both of God's holiness and also of His character, too.  God's holiness demands that He is absolutely pure, meaning that He cannot and would not taint Himself. Additionally, God's character is one of love, grace, mercy, and compassion.  Because of His loving character He could not and would not tempt people out of His great love.  We should never, not ever forget this truth, but we should let it stir and bind our hearts in adoration and exaltation of God!

James 1:17–Every Good Gift is From Above

James 1:17–"Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Turkey day arrives.  And, like all the years before, it is on this day that people gather around tables to feast with friends or family.  We mix giving thanks between forks full of mashed potatoes and fit gratitude somewhere between the turkey and the stuffing.  But this year, while engage in those well-worn family traditions, I pray that we might consider the great faithfulness of God.  In the end, this should always be our praise as we consider the awesome things that God has done for us.  So let us keep thankfulness at the forefront of our minds this Thanksgiving, giving thanks for all the greatness of God!

James 5:16b–The Power Of A Righteous Prayer

James 5:16b–"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Prayer is powerful.  It transforms lives and invokes the power of God.  Even more so, prayer is communication.  It is our line to God.  But as this line is available to all humans through Christ, it is also severed by unrighteousness and sin.  However, while the transaction of prayer is a real ordeal the necessity for the sincerity of our hearts and the value of our devotion is not unweighted in this.  What I mean to say, and what I think James is saying, is that, quite frankly, the righteous person, because of the process of attaining righteousness (devotion to Christ over time) the prayers of the righteous possess a depth and power otherwise inaccessible.

This is to say that righteousness is what strengthens our line of communication with God.  Let us strive for and pursue righteousness so that our prayer would not be merely noise but would be empowered by the Lord!

James 1:2-4–"Count it All Joy in Meeting Trials"

James 1:2-4–"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Many times have I read this verse with a level of incredulity.  I mean, doesn't James have this wrong? Joy, really?  We are called to have joy? But over the years and with the presence of the Holy Spirit, I have come to accept that James is saying something incredibly profound and, quite frankly, amazing. To be sure, James, and the witness of the Holy Spirit, are exhorting believers to have right perspective when we are faced with tribulation.  However, we should not merely think of this passage as only a commandment; it is also a promise.  The promise is that trials are a source of joy for believers.  This is not to assert that they are joyful to be in but, rather, that trials impart a sincerity and depth of character that we would never receive otherwise.

Therefore, we should strive to have this attitude among ourselves to face trials with joy, understanding that it is through trials that we would grow to be more Christ-like.

James 3:13–The Wise Will Show Their Wisdom

James 3:13–"Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom."

Wisdom never needs to show off.  Wisdom is content to be wise without having to tell everyone how wise she is.  It turns out that one of the true tests of wisdom is how meekly it reveals itself, how humbly it behaves in front of people.  In truth, the wisest people never have to tell anyone how wise they are: everyone will know.  Thus, perhaps the first step for becoming wise is to strive in humility to simply be wise and let our wisdom shine through the wise way that we would live.

This should be our prayer and our goal.

Let us pray for that!
Amen.

James 3:13–Showing Wisdom with Meekness

James 3:13–"Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show you his works in the meekness of wisdom."

One of the true measurements of wisdom is, it turns out, a direct reflection of the wisdom the person may possess. That is, a wise person will exhibit their wisdom wisely.  In some ways this is an obvious consideration.  However, there is a natural tendency for the fool to expose his folly even in wisdom.  Think of how easy it is, for instance, to want to tell everyone how wise we may be when we know that we are being wise.  In that instance–which has happened more often than I'd care to admit–the true wealth of wisdom has remained just beyond our reach.  In truth, to be truly wise we must also exude that wisdom wisely and with meekness.  This is what James is saying to us and we would be wise to listen.

James 1:17–Every Good Gift is From God

James 1:17: "Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

This is a wonderful verse, a certain reminder of the reality of our dependence upon God for every good thing.  It is quite often the case in life that when good gifts come we are prone to rationalize these providential pleasantries as if we deserve them or even that we've earned them in some way or another.  But the reality is that it is God Himself who blesses us with every good and perfect gift from above.  More than anything, then, when we perceive or realize the great gifts in our lives are, in fact, from God and we should, in turn, praise Him!  Praise God, then, for all the blessings that He has blessed us with in His name and in His good pleasure!

James 1:21–Put Away Filthiness in Order for the Word to take Root

James 1:21: "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."

Occasionally–maybe more often than I'd like to admit–I have a little problem with vulgarity.  In fact, it is only by the grace of God that the crudity of my younger days has been quelled and transformed.  I cannot boast in this transformation, I can only praise God for the great work that He has done in me.

However, it would be incorrect not to point out that I did have a choice to make in this regard: I had to choose God.  It was only after repenting of my sin and turning to God in faith that I was transformed from the inside out.  And although it has not always been easy to commit myself daily to obedience, I can say without a doubt that as long as I have remained focused on God, He has changed my heart, my mind, and my soul, to reflect His holiness.

But there is something else about this: implanting the saving word of God requires a dedication to put away the filthiness so that the word may take root in our lives.  The trick to overcoming vulgarity, it turns out, is not to attempt to manage but to press into God for transformation, which comes through the washing by His word.

Let us then commit to lean into God for truth and understanding but also so that God would rid our lives of al filthiness and vulgarity!

James 3:17–Wisdom From Above

James 3:17: "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

Wisdom is one of those great treasures worth sharing.  Sharing wisdom, though, is done best without telling everyone that it is wisdom that you are sharing.  For if wisdom is easily seen and never needs more of an introduction; it will stand on its own.

But doesn't worldly wisdom prefer to toot its own horn, so to speak?  True wisdom, that is, wisdom from above, is pure and peaceable, gentle.  And why would it be gentle?  Because, again, true wisdom has no need for coercion to prove its value; wisdom will always demonstrate its worth on its own.

Wisdom is impartial but it is also full of mercy.  It is a guide but sincere.  There is no doubt, then, that to search for wisdom would be the first step in wisdom.  It is, though, no mere coincidence that the search for wisdom is closely aligned to the search for God, as it is God Himself through whom all wisdom comes.  We would do well to seek after God with fervor and to become wise as a side effect.

The Long Walk of Faith: A Matter of Practice

The long walk in the same direction that is Christianity is an endurance race, an ardent patience of struggling to step forward steadfastly and sure through the troughs and snare of life.  Throughout this arduous race our only assurance unto perseverance is faith in God Himself.  But this strength is the ultimate source of strength that can cause all of us to be ever emboldened and comforted in the journey.

But this is not to say that faith is a passive endeavor.  On the contrary, faith is always reckoned actively.  Remember: "I will show you my faith by my works."  (James 2:18).  Faith, to be sure, is as much a matter of practice as it is about ritual, and it is as much an endeavor of individual experiences as it is one of everyday exercise.  

The everyday faith is, it turns out, the strongest faith man is capable of rendering to God.  It is that faith that so wholly suffuses the person's character with the regularity of the everyday exercises.  It is explained easy enough: start your day in prayer and study, throughout the day continue seeking after God and praying, and then ending your day the same way it began.

Time's Role in Growth based on My Love of Cooking

I like to cook.  Actually, I love to cook.  There is something so rewarding about making a good meal and sharing the table with family and friends.  It is one of the truly great joys of life.  I have cooked many meals, but my favorite thing to cook without a doubt is meat.  And whether its bacon, a burger, a steak, ribs, chops, or meatloaf, the key to great meat is still the same: time.

The best meat takes time.  Whenever you try to rush cooking the meat, you run the risk of overcooking, burning, or rendering it too tough and dry to be fit for use as anything other than a doorstop, let alone for human consumption.  Strangely enough, sanctification and godly character require the same sort of patience, the same kind of focused endurance.

Time is often the primary ingredient in sanctification.  True, focused prayer and Bible study are also necessary components but there is a definite reason that overseers need to be elders.  It is the passage of time, paired with the consistent pursuit of Christ that produces sanctification and growth.  This is what James is talking about when he says that we should let steadfastness have its full effect, meaning that only once perseverance has been met with the passage of time will it serve its intended sanctifying purposes (James 1:2-4).

This is one of those truths of life, that the passage of time is one of the primary ingredients in all good growth, be it the flowers of the garden, the braising of a short rib, or the maturation of spiritual character.  Let us then strive to remain steadfast over time so as to let perseverance fulfill its work so that we may be drawn closer and closer to God through Christ!

Consider again the words of James: "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming.  See how the farmer waits fro the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." (James 5:7-8).

All But a Mist

James writes: "What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:14b).

Or consider the psalmist who writes: "For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace." (Psa 102:3).

The preciousness of human life is but a vapor that appears to be blown away by the wind.  Solomon calls it but a vanity of vanities, a truly fleeting thing.  But this has never stopped humans from delusions of grandeur, from exalting our paltry lives to the heights of the created order.  We constantly and continually attempt to own, to conquer, to claim, and to name all that is within our reach.  But, in the end, mist cannot keep the time, vapor cannot hold anything.

Instead, all that we have has been given us by God.  We are but stewards to the grace that has been given.  This includes above all else the resource of time; we cannot own it our keep it but we are held accountable to how we use it.  We should never forget this reality, for how we use the precious little time that we've been blessed with is of the utmost importance.  Let us, then, never forget this truth but let it be the bedrock for our devotion and discipline to the Lord!

Dealing with a Fire-starting Tongue

Potentially a genetic disorder passed on generationally, I begrudgingly must admit that I suffer from chronic foot-in-mouth syndrome.  Although my symptoms have been kept in check for the most part, occasionally I find myself falling back into the disease when my mouth starts to speak without consulting my brain.  The net effect of such an endeavor is, without fail, unnecessary relational strain and undue emotional stress due to a tongue that behaves like a vial of Nitroglycerin, ready to break at any moment and ignite my forest of friends and family into a fiery inferno.

James writes that the tongue, though such a small thing in reality, is a powerful thing.  He likens it to the rudder of a ship, that is what guides the ship in all its size from such a seemingly small device (James 3:4).  And, "How great a forest is set ablaze by such a fire (James 3:5)!"  James is telling us that the child of God is to control, to tame their tongue and take care to speak only truth and grace.

The reality is that the tongue can be either the source of the greatest encouragement and love, or it can be the most destructive weapon of all.  The determining factor for how the tongue will be wielded boils down to intent: do we intend to love or do we intend something else.

Over the last several years, I have found it to be the case that when I remain focused on love and on loving those whom God has blessed me with that it is easy to speak only love and kindness.  However, in times that my tongue has been savaging, I have been able to find that the root of such destruction to be traceable to a heart that has not been focused on love but something less, like selfishness, greed, or (most often) pride.  As Jesus spoke, "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34).

The words of Paul seem most appropriate here:
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Eph. 4:29)."

Truly, the most corrupting and ruinous speech is that which is not loving, gracious, or kind.  And those who have given their lives wholly to the Lord should take this as a call.  To be sure, I still struggle against the flesh in this regard, for my mouth often speaks what I would rather it did not.  But, as aforementioned, speech is but a symptom of the heart.  Therefore, let us determine to keep our hearts fixed upon Christ Jesus so as to keep our lips free from vile, unloving filth and destruction!